license

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 

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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 of license

• enable
• authorize
• permit
• qualify
• empower

Examples of license in a Sentence

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

This marks a first for the franchise, as Lionsgate had previously licensed entries in the series to the premium cabler. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 4 June 2026

These originators must be licensed and/or registered under the SAFE Act and must provide their unique identifying number (NMLS ID) for a loan to be completed. —Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 4 June 2026

The State Bar of California has charged three attorneys at Downtown LA Law Group with signing up clients in states where they were not licensed to practice. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Perhaps licensing the traits and voices of those characters is the next logical step. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing license

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

Rhymes for license

• licence
• concupiscence

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

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