licence

American  

[lahy-suhns] / ˈlaɪ səns /

noun

1. Chiefly British. a variant of license.

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licence British  

/ ˈlaɪsəns /

noun

1. a certificate, tag, document, etc, giving official permission to do something

2. formal permission or exemption

3. liberty of action or thought; freedom

4. intentional disregard of or deviation from conventional rules to achieve a certain effect

   poetic licence

5. excessive freedom

6. licentiousness

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Etymology

Origin of licence

C14: via Old French and Medieval Latin licentia permission, from Latin: freedom, from licet it is allowed

Example Sentences

In Myanmar, private vehicles are currently only allowed to operate on alternate days depending on whether their licence plate is an odd or even number.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

He did not have a commercial licence for carrying passengers, nor the correct certification to fly at night, and his rating to fly the single-engine Piper had expired.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

In Myanmar, prices at the petrol pump have jumped and the junta has instituted fuel-saving measures, including alternate day bans on private vehicles, based on odd- or even-numbered licence plates.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

He will serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody and then be released on licence, the judge decided.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Fire Crabs are exported as pets but a special licence is necessary.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling