license plate

American  

noun

1. a plate or tag, usually of metal, bearing evidence of official registration and permission, as for the use of a motor vehicle.

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license plate British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): numberplate.  a plate mounted on the front and back of a motor vehicle bearing the registration number

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Etymology

Origin of license plate

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

A license plate reader detected Propeck’s car entering the national park on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

It features license plate information, images and other data, and even a voice search function to allow drivers tracking ICE to call in plates for checking.

From Barron's

A girl darts past holding a license plate.

From Literature

One popular grift involved running improper trades in military license plates, which drivers could abuse to speed through traffic and avoid paying road tolls.

From The Wall Street Journal

They have trailed agents’ vehicles, tracked their license plates, honked their horns and yelled at agents to leave.

From The Wall Street Journal