special licence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal, Legal, Institutional
Quick answer
What does “special licence” mean?
Official permission granted exceptionally or outside normal regulations, often to expedite a process.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Official permission granted exceptionally or outside normal regulations, often to expedite a process.
In UK English, specifically refers to a legal permit from an Archbishop to allow a marriage to take place without the usual waiting period or in a location not normally licensed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'special licence' is a specific, well-defined legal term for expedited marriage permission. In US English, the phrase is generic, meaning any exceptional permission (e.g., for construction, a business operation). The UK variant often retains the '-ce' spelling ('licence' as noun), while US uses '-se' ('license' for both noun and verb).
Connotations
UK: Strong legal/ecclesiastical connotation. US: Broader bureaucratic or administrative connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to its specific legal application. In US English, it's less common and more descriptive.
Grammar
How to Use “special licence” in a Sentence
VERB + special licence: apply for/grant/obtain/issuespecial licence + VERB: permits/allows/authorisesspecial licence + FOR + NOUN: for a marriage/for building workspecial licence + FROM + NOUN: from the Archbishop/from the councilVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “special licence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Archbishop can licence a marriage at short notice.
American English
- The city will license the festival to serve alcohol.
adjective
British English
- The special-licence procedure is quite swift.
- They had a special-licence wedding.
American English
- We went through a special-license application process.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company was granted a special licence to operate during the banking holiday.
Academic
The researcher required a special licence to access the classified archives.
Everyday
We had to get a special licence from the council to have a wedding in our garden.
Technical
A special licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury allows marriage at any time and place in England.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “special licence”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “special licence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “special licence”
- Misspelling 'licence' as 'license' in UK contexts (noun).
- Using 'special license' to refer to a standard business permit.
- Assuming it only applies to marriage in all English varieties.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A standard marriage licence requires a waiting period. A 'special licence' is an exception, granting permission to marry immediately or in an unlicensed venue.
In England, it is granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury (via the Faculty Office) or, for some locations, by a diocesan bishop.
Yes, especially in American English. It can refer to any exceptional permission from an authority, e.g., for construction, broadcasting, or importing goods.
UK English typically uses the noun 'licence' (special licence). US English uses 'license' for both noun and verb (special license).
Official permission granted exceptionally or outside normal regulations, often to expedite a process.
Special licence is usually formal, legal, institutional in register.
Special licence: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspeʃ.əl ˈlaɪ.səns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspeʃ.əl ˈlaɪ.səns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; it is itself a technical phrase.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPECIAL event needing a special pass (LICENCE) to break the usual rules.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A KEY; the 'special licence' is a unique key unlocking a normally closed door.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'special licence' a specific legal term for marriage?