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

Activists have urged L.A. to join the list of cities that have severed ties with the license plate reader company over concerns about how data is stored and shared.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

The legislation defines “personal information” as anything that identifies, describes or relates to the protected individuals, including their names, addresses, telephone numbers, physical descriptions, driver’s licenses, financial information, license plate numbers and places of employment.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

The app, known as Enhanced Leads Identification and Targeting for Enforcement, or ELITE, lets officers research and track individuals based on criminal history, license plate searches, name, date of birth or locations.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

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

Cat held the metal license plate in her hands, feeling the bumpy letters that spelled out Mom’s name.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn