licence
Americannoun
noun
-
a certificate, tag, document, etc, giving official permission to do something
-
formal permission or exemption
-
liberty of action or thought; freedom
-
intentional disregard of or deviation from conventional rules to achieve a certain effect
poetic licence
-
excessive freedom
-
licentiousness
Etymology
Origin of licence
C14: via Old French and Medieval Latin licentia permission, from Latin: freedom, from licet it is allowed
Explanation
A licence is a permit to do something. You need a licence to drive a car. If you spell it licence instead of license, then you’ll be driving on the left side of the road because the “c” ending is British. A licence, spelled with the “c,” is a noun — like that driver’s licence in your wallet that allows you to drive all over England. In British style, the word license (with an “s”) is only a verb and licence is a noun. So if you can put a/an/or the in front of it, it’s a licence. James Bond had a Licence to Kill in the movie of the same name. Don’t ask to see it!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The truck's licence plate was then tracked through automatic plate-reader technology, travelling through Missouri, where local authorities were dispatched to follow.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
He argues that an educational licence could allow him to support public understanding of badgers, wildlife rescue and caring for a protected species.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
When asked if they had permission to drop the boulders, Greenpeace said this was a "last resort" for it, and it did not have a licence.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
In a 2023 interview with a local news affiliate of CBS News, Filgueiras spoke proudly of receiving her pilot's licence while still a senior in high school.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 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
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
