license
B1Formal in legal/administrative contexts; neutral in everyday use.
Definition
Meaning
Official permission or legal authority to do, own, or use something.
Can refer to a document granting such permission, or metaphorically to excessive freedom or lack of restraint (as in 'poetic license').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun for the permission or document; a verb for the act of granting such permission. In figurative use, can imply undesirable freedom from rules.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, the noun is 'licence', the verb is 'license'. In AmE, 'license' is standard for both noun and verb.
Connotations
Similar in both. In computing, 'software license' is universal.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in AmE due to broader use of the verb form for official permissions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
license sb/sth to do sthlicense sb/sth as sthlicense sth (from sb/sth)be licensed to do sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “poetic license”
- “a license to print money”
- “a license to kill”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal document permitting a company to trade or use intellectual property.
Academic
In law & policy, refers to state-granted permissions; in creative fields, refers to freedom to deviate from facts/rules.
Everyday
Primarily associated with driving, broadcasting, or software.
Technical
In computing, a legal agreement governing software use; in engineering, a certification for operators.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council licensed the new restaurant to serve alcohol.
- She is licensed to practise law in England.
American English
- The city licensed the new bar to operate.
- He is licensed to sell insurance in all 50 states.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. Use 'under licence' or 'licensedly' (very rare/archaic).
American English
- The software was used licensedly. (Extremely rare; 'legally' or 'under license' preferred.)
adjective
British English
- He is a licensed taxi driver.
- They operate a fully licensed premises.
American English
- She is a licensed contractor.
- They bought licensed merchandise from the film.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a driving license.
- You need a license to fish here.
- Her pilot's license took months to get.
- The company lost its license to operate.
- The broadcaster was licensed by the government.
- The novel takes considerable historical license with the facts.
- The framework licenses member states to implement the directive.
- His behaviour suggested he thought his wealth was a license for arrogance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a driver's license: you need it to be legal on the road. Both 'license' and 'legal' start with 'L' and relate to official permission.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERMISSION IS A KEY (a license unlocks the door to a restricted activity). FREEDOM IS A TICKET (a license is your ticket to operate).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лицензия' (always a noun) – English has noun/verb distinction. Avoid direct translation of 'разрешение' in non-legal contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'licence' as a verb in BrE. Confusing 'license' with 'certificate' (a license is permission; a certificate is proof of a standard). Spelling: 'lisence' or 'liscense'.
Practice
Quiz
In British English, which sentence is correct?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Driver's license' is standard in AmE. 'Driving licence' is standard in BrE.
A license is official permission to do something (often requiring a test). A certificate is a document proving a fact (e.g., a birth certificate) or a qualification (e.g., a training certificate).
Yes. 'Poetic license' means freedom to break rules in art. 'A license to kill' means official permission for extreme action. It can also imply unwarranted freedom: 'His fame gave him license to be rude.'
It means to grant official permission. Structure: [Authority] licenses [person/entity] to [do something]. Example: 'The government licensed the company to export the goods.'