license

[ lahy-suhns ]

noun

1. formal permission from a governmental or other constituted authority to do something, as to carry on some business or profession.
2. a certificate, tag, plate, etc., giving proof of such permission; official permit:

   a driver's license.

3. permission to do or not to do something.
4. intentional deviation from rule, convention, or fact, as for the sake of literary or artistic effect:

   poetic license.

5. exceptional freedom allowed in a special situation.
6. excessive or undue freedom or liberty.
7. licentiousness ( def 1 ).
8. the legal right to use a patent owned by another.

verb (used with object)

, li·censed, li·cens·ing.

1. to grant authoritative permission or license to.

license

/ ˈlaɪsəns /

verb

1. to grant or give a licence for (something, such as the sale of alcohol)
2. to give permission to or for

Derived Forms

• ˈlicensable, adjective
• ˈlicenser, noun

Other Words From

• li·cens·a·ble adjective
• li·cense·less adjective
• li·cens·or li·cen·ser noun
• de-li·cense verb (used with object) delicensed delicensing
• non·li·cens·a·ble adjective
• non·li·censed adjective
• pre·li·cense noun verb (used with object) prelicensed prelicensing
• re·li·cense verb (used with object) relicensed relicensing

Word History and Origins

Origin of license¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English licence, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin licentia “authorization,” Latin: “freedom,” equivalent to licent- (stem of licēns, present participle of licēre “to be allowed”) + -ia noun suffix; -ia, -ence

Example Sentences

His desire to shed light on the proliferation of license plate readers in his neighborhood in Huntsville, Ala., this year spurred an idea for a crowdsourced database where people across the world can upload the locations of the readers.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the past decade, license plate readers have become a useful tool for law enforcement agencies across the country.

From Los Angeles Times

The sheriff’s and police departments shared license plate information and perhaps even more sensitive materials with out-of-state agencies, against state privacy protocols, Sacramento County’s grand jury says.

From Los Angeles Times

“The pages said ‘license plate reader’ with an arrow pointing up,” Freeman said.

From Los Angeles Times

“There are people who defend their existence, but I don’t think it’s worth it,” he said of the license plate readers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• authorization
• certificate
• charter
• consent
• exemption
• grant
• immunity
• permit
• privilege
• right
• ticket
• warrant