licence

American  

[lahy-suhns] / ˈlaɪ səns /

noun

1. Chiefly British. a variant of license.

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licence British  

/ ˈlaɪsəns /

noun

1. a certificate, tag, document, etc, giving official permission to do something

2. formal permission or exemption

3. liberty of action or thought; freedom

4. intentional disregard of or deviation from conventional rules to achieve a certain effect

   poetic licence

5. excessive freedom

6. licentiousness

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Etymology

Origin of licence

C14: via Old French and Medieval Latin licentia permission, from Latin: freedom, from licet it is allowed

Explanation

A licence is a permit to do something. You need a licence to drive a car. If you spell it licence instead of license, then you’ll be driving on the left side of the road because the “c” ending is British. A licence, spelled with the “c,” is a noun — like that driver’s licence in your wallet that allows you to drive all over England. In British style, the word license (with an “s”) is only a verb and licence is a noun. So if you can put a/an/or the in front of it, it’s a licence. James Bond had a Licence to Kill in the movie of the same name. Don’t ask to see it!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

licence

Now, the family has been told Whiteman can be released under licence as early as this autumn as part of the UK government's Sentencing Act early release scheme.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Being released on licence means serving the remainder of a prison sentence under supervised conditions in the community.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

He was on licence and managed by multiple agencies including the Met and the Probation Service.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

The licence would allow the new location to remain open and sell alcohol until 23:30 BST on weekdays and midnight at weekends.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

From these two opposed appetites, there arises in cities one of three effects: a principality, liberty, or licence.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli