license

¹li·cense

noun \ˈlī-s^ən(t)s\

Definition of LICENSE

1

a : permission to act

b : freedom of action

2

a : a permission granted by competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity otherwise unlawful

b : a document, plate, or tag evidencing a license granted

c : a grant by the holder of a copyright or patent to another of any of the rights embodied in the copyright or patent short of an assignment of all rights

3

a : freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility

b : disregard for standards of personal conduct : licentiousness

4

: deviation from fact, form, or rule by an artist or writer for the sake of the effect gained

— licensed adjective

Variants of LICENSE

li·cense or li·cence \ˈlī-s^ən(t)s\

Examples of LICENSE

1. The restaurant's owner applied for a license to sell liquor.
2. His job as a reporter gives him license to go anywhere and ask anything.

Origin of LICENSE

Middle English, from Anglo-French licence, from Latin licentia, from licent-, licens, present participle of licēre to be permitted

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LICENSE

Synonyms

allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, leave, permission (or licence), sanction, sufferance, warrant

Antonyms

interdiction, prohibition, proscription

Related Words

imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp; accreditation, certification; liberty, pass; concession, patent, permit; tolerance, toleration; acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, OK (or okay); accord, grant

Near Antonyms

denial, refusal, rejection, revocation; taboo (also tabu); injunction, veto; deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression; ban, embargo, exclusion

See Synonym Discussion at freedom

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

²license

transitive verb

li·censed also li·cencedli·cens·ing also li·cenc·ing

Definition of LICENSE

1

a : to issue a license to

b : to permit or authorize especially by formal license

2

: to give permission or consent to : allow

— li·cens·able \-s^ən(t)-sə-bəl\ adjective

— li·cen·sor \-sər, ˌli-s^ən-ˈsȯr\ also li·cens·er \-sər\ noun

Variants of LICENSE

license also licence

Examples of LICENSE

1. The restaurant has now been licensed to sell liquor.
2. a new drug licensed by the government
3. The company licensed its name to others.

First Known Use of LICENSE

15th century

Related to LICENSE

Synonyms

accredit, certify, charter [British], commission, empower, enable, invest, authorize (also licence), qualify, vest, warrant

Antonyms

disqualify

Related Words

approve, clear, credential, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; affirm, confirm, validate; inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, swear in; allow, let, permit; enfranchise, entitle, privilege

Near Antonyms

ban, bar, block, constrain, deny, disallow, disbar, discourage, disenfranchise, disfranchise, exclude, hinder, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent, shut out, stop; enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe, veto

li·cense

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of LICENSE

: a permission granted by competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity otherwise unlawful <a license to practice medicine>

—license or chiefly British licence transitive verb, li·censedor chiefly British ; li·cenced; li·cens·ingor chiefly British ; li·cenc·ing

Variants of LICENSE

li·cense or chiefly British li·cence \ˈlīs-^ən(t)s\ (audio pronunciation)