license

[ lahy-suhns ]

/ ˈlaɪ səns /

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See synonyms for: license / licensed on Thesaurus.com

noun Also especially British, li·cence .

formal permission from a governmental or other constituted authority to do something, as to carry on some business or profession.

a certificate, tag, plate, etc., giving proof of such permission; official permit: a driver's license.

permission to do or not to do something.

intentional deviation from rule, convention, or fact, as for the sake of literary or artistic effect: poetic license.

exceptional freedom allowed in a special situation.

excessive or undue freedom or liberty.

licentiousness (def. 1).

the legal right to use a patent owned by another.

verb (used with object), li·censed, li·cens·ing.

to grant authoritative permission or license to.

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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; see -ia, -ence

OTHER WORDS FROM license

li·cens·a·ble, adjectiveli·cense·less, adjectiveli·cens·or, li·cen·ser, nounde-li·cense, verb (used with object), de-li·censed, de-li·cens·ing.

non·li·cens·a·ble, adjectivenon·li·censed, adjectivepre·li·cense, noun, verb (used with object), pre·li·censed, pre·li·cens·ing.re·li·cense, verb (used with object), re·li·censed, re·li·cens·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH license

certificate, degree, diploma, license

How to use license in a sentence

Campuswire’s key monetization strategy, which was selling pro licenses for its online class software, felt threatened by alternatives.
As edtech crowds up, Campuswire bets big on real-time learning|Natasha Mascarenhas|November 11, 2020|TechCrunch
If you have a car and a license to drive it, you can sign up as a volunteer and help people on or before election day.
Five ways to help democracy even if you can’t vote|Sandra Gutierrez G.|October 21, 2020|Popular-Science
It’s a particularly thorny problem for medical AI, because much of those datasets are under license and sharing can generate privacy concerns.
Can We Trust AI Doctors? Google Health and Academics Battle It Out|Shelly Fan|October 20, 2020|Singularity Hub
Some states also prohibit the sale of recreationally-harvested oysters, and fishing licenses can be required.
14 wild edibles you can pull right out of the ocean|By Bob McNally/Field & Stream|October 19, 2020|Popular-Science

To that end, real-life archival footage is blended with newly filmed “re-enactments” – and a healthy dose of artistic license – to bring their histories to life.
‘Equal’ explores LGBTQ life before Stonewall|John Paul King|October 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Spanning more than 150 years, the exhibit exhaustively distinguishes designer pieces from licensed copies, adaptations, and fakes.
The Big Business of Fashion Counterfeits|Lizzie Crocker|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, the act that gives blanket immunity seems only to apply to licensed dealers.
Victim’s Parents Sue Merchants of the Aurora Massacre|Cliff Schecter|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the late 1990s a vaccine called RotaShield was licensed in the United States.
The $1 Billion Reason to Vaccinate|Russell Saunders|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As with all self-experiments, readers will need to judge what works best for themselves—and with a licensed physician.
How to Use Your Lunch Hour for Better Productivity, Without Ever Taking a Bite|Gregory Ferenstein|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It would have had to have proper accounting and people with financials skills to get licensed.
Inside Japan’s Bitcoin Heist|Jake Adelstein|February 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After a distinguished career he was, in 1746, licensed to preach by the presbytery of Aberdeen.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2|Various
After further training at Edinburgh he was licensed as preacher by the presbytery of Lorne in 1821.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2|Various
And in how many millions of homes was this same thing going on—this licensed preying of one personality upon another?
Love's Pilgrimage|Upton Sinclair
They are licensed assassins, who track our steps without pity and cut our throats without giving us time to cry mercy.
Laboulaye's Fairy Book|Various
Besides this, the Jewish religion was recognized, tolerated, licensed.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 03|Various

British Dictionary definitions for license

license

/ (ˈlaɪsəns) /

verb (tr)

to grant or give a licence for (something, such as the sale of alcohol)

to give permission to or for

Derived forms of license

licensable, adjectivelicenser or licensor, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

license

Origin of license

OTHER WORDS FROM license

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH license

Words related to license

How to use license in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for license

Derived forms of license