license
Americannoun
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formal permission from a governmental or other constituted authority to do something, as to carry on some business or profession.
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a certificate, tag, plate, etc., giving proof of such permission; official permit.
a driver's license.
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permission to do or not to do something.
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intentional deviation from rule, convention, or fact, as for the sake of literary or artistic effect.
poetic license.
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exceptional freedom allowed in a special situation.
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excessive or undue freedom or liberty.
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the legal right to use a patent owned by another.
verb (used with object)
verb
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to grant or give a licence for (something, such as the sale of alcohol)
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to give permission to or for
Usage
What does license mean? License means permission to do something, especially formal permission from a government or other authority. The word often refers to the proof of that permission, such as a card or certificate.A license can be required for many different kinds of activities, especially those that may be considered dangerous if a person does not have the proper training. The most common types of licenses are driver’s licenses, professional licenses, and licenses for businesses. Those who hold such licenses are said to be licensed. License can also be used as a verb, meaning “to grant permission” or “to give a license to.” In British English, it is commonly spelled licence.Example: I have permission to operate here, and if you doubt it you can even see my license.
Other Word Forms
- de-license verb (used with object)
- licensable adjective
- licenseless adjective
- licenser noun
- licensor noun
- nonlicensable adjective
- nonlicensed adjective
- prelicense noun
- relicense verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of license
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English licence, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin licentia “authorization,” Latin: “freedom,” equivalent to licent- (stem of licēns, present participle of licēre “to be allowed”) + -ia noun suffix; -ia, -ence
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.
She put medical providers on alert that their licenses could be yanked if they are found to be trying to loot insurers.
“This makes sense as it is a way for the BBC to show off its content creation skills and generate additional income beyond the license fee,” he adds.
“The desire to be authentic is universal; license to do so is not,” Ms. Burey, a writer and podcaster, tells us.
These costs include permitting at local and federal levels, testing and engineering to get licensing from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and site preparation.
“We are confident that under the right conditions, operating licenses and safety environment, we can ramp up activities quickly.”
Definitions 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.
