registration number: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “registration number” mean?
A unique alphanumeric code officially assigned to identify a vehicle, student, voter, or other item/entity required to be registered.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unique alphanumeric code officially assigned to identify a vehicle, student, voter, or other item/entity required to be registered.
Any officially issued serial number used to record an item in a formal register or database, serving as its primary identifier within that system (e.g., for a company, patent, domain name, or software product).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, for vehicles, 'registration number' is standard; 'license plate number' is also understood but less formal. In the US, 'license plate number' is the dominant everyday term; 'registration number' is used more in official/legal contexts or for non-vehicle items.
Connotations
'Registration number' sounds more official and bureaucratic. 'License plate number' is more concrete and visual.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties, but the preferred collocation for vehicles differs as above.
Grammar
How to Use “registration number” in a Sentence
[verb] + registration number (e.g., take down, note, record)registration number + [verb] (e.g., registration number identifies, registration number appears)[adjective] + registration number (e.g., valid, correct, official)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “registration number” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The car was re-registered with a new registration number.
- You must register the vehicle to get a registration number.
American English
- You need to register the trailer to obtain a registration number.
- The software registration process will generate a unique registration number.
adjective
British English
- The registration-number details were unclear in the photograph.
- Please complete the registration-number enquiry form.
American English
- The registration-number data is stored in the DMV database.
- There was a registration-number requirement on the application.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company registration number must be displayed on all official stationery.
Academic
Please include your student registration number on the front page of your dissertation.
Everyday
I saw a car hit yours—did you get its registration number?
Technical
The aircraft's registration number, or tail number, is G-ABCD.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “registration number”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “registration number”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “registration number”
- Using plural incorrectly: 'I need your registrations numbers' (incorrect) vs. 'I need your registration numbers' (correct if multiple).
- Confusing 'registration number' with 'registration fee' or 'registration form'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a specific, globally standardised 17-character code for a vehicle's manufacture. A registration number (or licence plate number) is assigned by the government for that vehicle's operation on roads and can change if the vehicle is re-registered.
Yes, in contexts where people are formally entered into a register, such as students (student registration number), voters (voter registration number), or professionals (medical registration number).
A 'license number' typically refers to a permit granted to a person (e.g., driver's license number, pilot's license number). A 'registration number' refers to an item or entity entered into an official record (e.g., car, company, patent).
To sound more formal, precise, or official, especially in legal documents, police reports, or when referring to non-vehicle registrations (e.g., boat, firearm, software).
A unique alphanumeric code officially assigned to identify a vehicle, student, voter, or other item/entity required to be registered.
Registration number is usually neutral to formal in register.
Registration number: in British English it is pronounced /ˌredʒ.ɪˈstreɪ.ʃən ˌnʌm.bər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌredʒ.əˈstreɪ.ʃən ˌnʌm.bər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all about the reg (UK informal, referring to a car's status symbol)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'registration number' as a NAME TAG given by an official REGISTER (list). It's the number from the registration process.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN IDENTIFIER IS A NAME / AN ENTITY IS A NUMBER IN A LIST.
Practice
Quiz
In everyday US English, what is the most common way to ask for a car's identifying code?