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

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

He noted that, in instances such as cold cases, license plate data are needed to solve crimes beyond a 60-day window.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

The viewing sessions got more serious after Cicero told his friends he went to a trivia night and was stumped by a question on the license plate on Jerry’s Saab convertible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

It was spotted on license plate readers in Globe, Ariz., at about 6:30 p.m. local time.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

OK, so she was furious and even threatened to call the Las Vegas police and report my friend’s license plate number.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers