license

1 of 2

noun

li·​cense ˈlī-sᵊn(t)s 

variants or licence

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

a hunting license

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

Freedom of the press should not be turned into license.

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

poetic license

license

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly licence

licensed also licenced; licensing also licencing

transitive verb

1

a

: to issue a license to

b

: to permit or authorize especially by formal license

2

: to give permission or consent to : allow

licensable

ˈlī-sᵊn(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

licensor

ˈlī-sᵊn(t)-sər 

ˌli-sᵊn-ˈsȯr

noun

or less commonly licenser

ˈlī-sᵊn(t)-sər 

Did you know?

The Shared Roots of License and Licentious

License and licentious come ultimately from the same word in Latin, licentia, whose meanings ranged from "freedom to act" to "unruly behavior, wantonness." The Latin noun was itself derived from the verb licere "to be permitted." Though we are likely to associate license with the card that grants freedom or permission to operate a motor vehicle and licentious with sexual wantonness, in actuality, there is considerable semantic overlap between the two words. Poetic license refers to deviation from a (usually) literary norm for some purposeful effect. A person who takes license with something (or someone) engages in "abusive disregard for rules of personal conduct." Hence, the semantic range of license in English mirrors that of its Latin antecedent, suggesting either permission or transgression, depending upon the context. Licentious, on the other hand, always implies excessive, transgressive freedom, as is true of its immediate Latin source, licentiosus "unrestrained, wanton" (literally, "full of freedom").

Synonyms

Noun

• allowance
• authorization
• clearance
• concurrence
• consent
• granting
• green light
• leave
• permission
• sanction
• sufferance
• warrant

Verb

• accredit
• authorize
• certify
• charter [British]
• commission
• empower
• enable
• invest
• qualify
• vest
• warrant

Choose the Right Synonym for license

freedom, liberty, license mean the power or condition of acting without compulsion.

freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated.

freedom of the press

liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion.

the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty

license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom.

freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

Examples of license in a Sentence

Noun

The restaurant's owner applied for a license to sell liquor.

His job as a reporter gives him license to go anywhere and ask anything.

Verb

The restaurant has now been licensed to sell liquor.

a new drug licensed by the government

The company licensed its name to others.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It’s been serving online casino games since 1998, has a license issued by the Malta Gaming Authority, and is accredited by eCORGA for fairness. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024

On both coasts, candidates for licenses have faced far too much red tape; at the same time, the legalization of weed, which added taxes and jacked up the price per ounce, gave a shot in the arm to the illicit economy, which offers lower prices. —The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

Ryan Koss, 35, who knew Williams, was given a one-year deferred sentence and as part of his probation will have his driving license revoked for a year and must complete a community restorative justice program on the misdemeanor charge. —CBS News, 9 Mar. 2024

For example, Florida charges drivers an annual vehicle license tax based on the weight of their car or truck. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024

Trending on Billboard Putting on a great live show has given the band license to play with their shows’ set lists. —Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024

Koss’ sentencing will be deferred for a year, Judge Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady said, and his license to drive will be suspended during that time. —Rob Frehse, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024

The complaint also alleges Thomas emailed a Wayne County Treasurer's Office employee fake driver licenses and other documents, which were uploaded into the treasurer's property tax administration system to halt pending foreclosures, per the release. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 28 Feb. 2024

Occupational licensing increases wages for workers who can bear the costs—both financial and time costs—of obtaining a license. —Adam A. Millsap, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

Verb

The center is licensed to treat mental health issues, too, such as anxiety and depression. —Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024

It is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, which translates to fairness and security. 6. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024

The Academy of Future Leaders was licensed under the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ Division of Child Care and Community Services at the time the boy was beaten, according to the lawsuit. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024

Netflix also licensed the documentary with plans to begin streaming this spring. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024

Here's why metro Phoenix is now the biggest data center hub in the western US Fixing your slow Google Chrome browser can be easy with these simple tips Rental owners must get licensed with their city and pay a fee of up to $250. —Marcus Reichley, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

The studio was formerly owned by Fox, which licensed Last Man to ABC before Disney acquired the studio. —Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024

Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine underwent a massive trial involving 1.6 million children in the U.S., Canada and Finland in 1954; the vaccine was licensed in 1955. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024

Stocks rescues wounded raptors, and his Owl Adventures is among more than 20 companies licensed to use barn owls in weddings and for educational purposes in Britain. —Cathy Free, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing license

• marriage license
• a license to print money
• license plate
• driver's license
• poetic license
• license number
• under license

Kids Definition

license

1 of 2 noun

li·​cense

variants or licence

ˈlīs-ᵊn(t)s 

1

a

: permission granted by qualified authority to do something

b

: a document, plate, or tag showing that such permission has been granted

2

: liberty of action that is carried too far

license

2 of 2 verb

variants also licence

licensed also licenced; licensing also licencing

: to permit or authorize by license

licensable

ˈlīs-ᵊn-sə-bəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

license

noun

li·​cense

variants or chiefly British licence

ˈlīs-ᵊn(t)s 

: 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 transitive verb

or chiefly British licence

licensed or chiefly British licenced; licensing or chiefly British licencing

Legal Definition

license

1 of 2 noun

li·​cense

ˈlīs-ᵊns

1

a

: a right or permission granted by a competent authority (as of a government or a business) to engage in some business or occupation, do some act, or engage in some transaction which would be unlawful without such right or permission

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

b

: revocable authority or permission given solely to one having no possessory rights in a tract of land to do something on that land which would otherwise be unlawful or a trespass compare easement, lease

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

2

: a defense (as to trespass) that one's act was in accordance with a license granted

3

a

: freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility

b

: disregard for standards of personal conduct : licentiousness

license

2 of 2 transitive verb

licensed; licensing

1

: to issue a license to

2

: to permit or authorize by a license

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, literally, permission, from Old French, from Latin licentia, from licent- licens, present participle of licēre to be permitted, be for sale