licensed
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a legal document or official permission to do a specific job or activity.
adj.having been issued a formal licence by a governing or regulatory authority to perform a specific function.
Simple“You must be a licensed driver to operate a vehicle on public roads.”
In context“The state requires all licensed electricians to complete a safety course every two years to maintain their professional standing.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it modifies.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing a place, like a restaurant or shop, that has permission to sell alcohol.
adj.authorized by law to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on or off the premises.
Simple“We looked for a licensed restaurant so we could have a glass of wine with dinner.”
In context“The hotel bar is a fully licensed premises, allowing guests to enjoy spirits in the lounge until midnight.”
Teacher's tipIn British English, a 'licensed grocer' or 'licensed premises' specifically refers to the legal right to sell alcohol.
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.the past tense of 'license', meaning to give someone official permission.
v.the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'license', meaning to grant a formal permit.
Simple“The government licensed the new radio station to broadcast across the city.”
In context“The software company licensed its proprietary encryption technology to several smaller firms for a significant annual fee.”
UsageThis is the past tense form; in American English, both the noun and verb are often spelled with an 's', while British English uses 'c' for the noun and 's' for the verb.
PitfallThe city licence the new taxi company. The city licensed the new taxi company.Use the '-ed' ending for the past tense action of giving a permit.
SynonymsAntonyms
“Th drug is licensed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or those with a BMI of between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related condition.”
“The Ervebo vaccine is licensed for use against the Ebola virus – one of the viruses that cause Ebola disease – but not for Bundibugyo.”