license
gb/lˈaɪsəns/ us/lˈaɪsəns/
A2
English
~ 1000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Official permission document
A paper or card from the government or other authority that says you can do something.
Usage pattern:
a license to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'license' (permission) with 'licence' in British spelling; both mean the same but differ in spelling based on region.
Synonyms
permit (Often used interchangeably, but 'permit' can refer to a smaller-scale or temporary permission.)
Antonyms
prohibition (Indicates that something is forbidden rather than officially allowed.)
Collocations
driver's license
|business license
|marriage license
|license renewal
|license fee
Themes
law
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You need a driver's license to legally operate a car.
- The restaurant displayed its business license near the entrance.
- He applied for a fishing license before the trip.
- Her marriage license was issued last week.
- The company renewed its export license.
Learner examples
- I have a driver's license.
- She got her fishing license.
- They need a business license.
- We paid for the license.
- He showed his license to the police.
Noun
B1
relation
2
Official permission or right
The right to do something that is given by a person or group in power.
Usage pattern:
license to [do something]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'license' as a physical document with 'license' as the permission itself; in this sense, it is not always a physical object.
Synonyms
authorization (A more formal term often used in legal or bureaucratic contexts.)
Antonyms
restriction (Indicates a limit placed on actions rather than permission.)
Collocations
license to operate
|license to sell
|license to carry
|license agreement
Themes
law
|rights
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The software company has a license to use the patented technology.
- He was given a license to carry a firearm.
- Without a license, you cannot run this type of business.
- The TV station lost its broadcast license.
- They received a license to build on the land.
Learner examples
- I have a license to fish.
- She got a license to sell food.
- He needs a license to carry a gun.
- We got a license to use the music.
- They lost their license to run the shop.
Verb
B2
action
3
Grant official permission
To give someone permission from the government or another authority to do something.
Usage pattern:
to license [someone/something] to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 'license' instead of 'allow' in informal contexts where no official permission is involved.
Synonyms
authorize ('Authorize' is more formal and may not always involve a legal document.)
Antonyms
ban (Means to officially forbid an action rather than allow it.)
Collocations
license a driver
|license a product
|license a company
|licensed premises
Themes
law
|business
|work
Examples
- The government licensed several companies to provide internet services.
- They are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
- The board decided not to license the new taxi operators.
- Only licensed vendors can sell food here.
Learner examples
- The city licensed her shop.
- They licensed him to drive buses.
- The company is licensed to make toys.
- We are licensed to sell drinks.
Noun
formal
C1
state
4
Excessive freedom without restraint
Freedom to do what you want without caring about rules, which can be bad.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'license' meaning permission with this figurative sense of excessive freedom; context is important.
Synonyms
liberty ('Liberty' is more neutral and positive; 'license' in this sense often has a negative connotation.)
Antonyms
restraint (Indicates holding back behavior rather than acting without limits.)
Collocations
moral license
|artistic license
Themes
society
|ethics
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Critics argued that freedom had turned into license.
- He took license with the facts when telling his story.
- Artistic license allows writers some freedom with historical details.
Learner examples
- He used too much artistic license in the movie.
- Freedom is good, but license can be bad.
- She took license with the truth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
license
IPA
GB/lˈaɪsəns/
US/lˈaɪsəns/
Syllables & stress
li - cense (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (li)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: license
- Variant Spelling: licence
- Plural: license, licenses
Verb
- Base: license
- Variant Spelling: licence
- 3rd Person Singular: licenses
- Present Participle: licensing
- Past: licensed
Word family
Forms
Related words
licensee
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unlicensed
adjective
Advanced or less common
licensor
noun
licensure
noun
Highlights
- Spelling Variant: licence Verb
- Spelling Variant: licence Noun
Expressions
license to kill
1/lˈaɪsəns tə kˈɪl/
fixed phrase
informal
Official right to kill legally
Permission from someone in power, like the government, to kill people without breaking the law.
Examples
- In spy movies, agents often have a license to kill.
- He joked that his new role gave him a license to kill.
artistic license
1/ɑɹtˈɪstɪk lˈaɪsəns/
idiom
Freedom to alter facts creatively
When artists change details for their art instead of keeping everything true to real life.
Examples
- The film took artistic license with the historical events.
- Artistic license allows novelists to create fictional characters in real settings.
artistic license
2/ɑɹtˈɪstɪk lˈaɪsəns/
idiom
freedom to change facts in art
The freedom for an artist or writer to change facts or details so that a story, picture, or film is more interesting or effective.
Examples
- The film takes a lot of artistic license with the true story.
- The painter used artistic license and changed the colors of the landscape.
- Readers complained that the author had gone too far with artistic license.
poetic license
1/poʊˈɛtɪk lˈaɪsəns/
fixed phrase
Freedom to break rules for art
Freedom for artists to change facts or rules to make their work better.
Examples
- The author used poetic license in changing the story's ending.
- The director took some poetic license with the historical events.
- Poetic license lets writers bend grammar rules.
- Writers often use poetic license to make their stories more exciting.