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

Neighborhood doorbell cameras, Flock license plate readers and hyperlocal social media sites like Nextdoor create a crowdsourced record of all people’s movements in public spaces.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

I acquired the license plate via a 4K traffic camera at the intersection, a camera you could not see.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

His Washington state license plate read 29028, the generally accepted height of Everest when he climbed it.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

He was also charged with improperly displaying a license plate, which was later dismissed.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

I leave everything as it was, except for the license plate, which I take with me.

From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven