licence

licence — noun

1. a card or document issued by an official body that allows you to drive, own a ve

1.nounB1
Definition

a card or document issued by an official body that allows you to drive, own a vehicle, fish, sell alcohol, run a business, or do another activity that the law would otherwise restrict

Example

Quan passed his driving test last week and finally received his full driving licence.

driving licence — official document for driving

The restaurant lost its licence to sell alcohol after serving drinks to teenagers.

licence + to-infinitive for permitted activity

Common collocations
  • driving licence
  • fishing licence
  • licence to sell
  • grant a licence
  • revoke a licence
  • renew a licence
  • apply for a licence
  • hold a licence
Synonyms
  • permit

    a permit is often for a specific one-time activity rather than an ongoing document

  • certificate

    a certificate proves you have completed training; a licence gives ongoing permission

  • authorisation

    refers to the act of giving permission rather than the physical document

Grammar Patterns

licence + to-infinitive

licence + for + noun phrase

Usage Note

In UK English, the noun is always spelled 'licence'. Do not confuse with 'license', which is the verb form.

Common Mistakes

I passed my driving license test last week.
I passed my driving licence test.
In UK English, the noun is 'licence' (with a 'c'), not 'license'.
He licenced his car last month.
He licensed his car last month.
The verb uses 's', not 'c', in UK English.

2. the freedom to act or speak as one pleases without outside control, particularly

2.nounB2
Definition

the freedom to act or speak as one pleases without outside control, particularly when this goes further than what most people consider reasonable

Example

The journalist took too much licence with the facts in her article about the politician.

take too much licence with — common phrase for going too far

Layla felt the teacher gave the older students too much licence to skip assignments.

Common collocations
  • take licence with
  • give someone licence to
  • too much licence
  • poetic licence
Synonyms
  • freedom

    neutral and broader; 'licence' often suggests excessive or irresponsible freedom

  • latitude

    more formal, suggests reasonable room for choice rather than overstepping bounds

  • liberty

    can be neutral or carry a 'taking liberties' negative sense, similar to 'licence'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

licence to + infinitive

take (too much) licence with

Usage Note

This sense often carries a negative tone — it implies the freedom is being used irresponsibly or beyond reasonable limits. A more neutral alternative is 'freedom' or 'latitude'.

Common Mistakes

The government gave citizens licence to vote.
The government gave citizens the right to vote.
'Licence' in this sense is not a neutral synonym for 'right' or 'permission'; it suggests freedom that may be abused.

3. the freedom that artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers have to change fact

3.nounB2
Definition

the freedom that artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers have to change facts or break normal rules in order to create a better or more powerful effect in their work

Example

By artistic licence, the novel's hero meets the queen years before their real meeting.

artistic licence — freedom to change facts for effect

Ryo defended his use of modern slang in the historical play as poetic licence.

Common collocations
  • poetic licence
  • artistic licence
  • dramatic licence
  • take licence with the facts
  • use licence
Synonyms
  • creative freedom

    broader and more neutral — does not specifically imply changing facts

  • artistic freedom

    nearly synonymous but slightly less specific to bending rules

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + licence

Usage Note

The most common form of this sense is 'poetic licence', which specifically refers to a writer or poet changing facts or language rules. 'Artistic licence' and 'dramatic licence' are also used in the visual arts and theatre.

4. an arrangement in which the owner of a brand, design, invention, or piece of wri

4.nounB2
Definition

an arrangement in which the owner of a brand, design, invention, or piece of writing gives legal permission for another person or company to make or sell copies of it

Example

The Japanese car company builds its most popular model under licence from a German manufacturer.

under licence from — standard commercial phrase

Faisal's software firm agreed to produce the game under licence from the original creator.

Common collocations
  • under licence
  • licence from
  • licence to manufacture
  • licence agreement
  • pay for a licence
  • grant a licence
Synonyms
  • franchise

    a franchise is a broader business agreement that includes brand, systems, and support; 'licence' is narrower

  • authorisation

    more general; 'licence' specifically implies IP rights

Grammar Patterns

under licence

licence from [company/person]

Usage Note

This sense nearly always appears in the phrase 'under licence' (e.g., 'manufactured under licence') or with 'licence to' followed by a commercial activity. It is specific to intellectual property and manufacturing rights.

Common Mistakes

This shop sells food under licence from the health department.
This shop has a licence from the health department.
'Under licence' is for IP/commercial permissions, not regulatory permits (sense 1).
Idioms

poetic licence

idiom

the freedom that poets and other writers have to change facts, ignore grammar rules, or use unusual language in order to create a more beautiful or effective work

The poet used poetic licence to spell 'never' as 'ne'er' to keep the rhythm of the line.

Noa criticised the film for its use of poetic licence, but admitted the story worked better as a result.

artistic/poetic licence

idiom

The ability of artists or writers to change facts to make their work more interesting or beautiful.

The film used artistic licence to make the story more dramatic.

Did the poet take poetic licence when describing the battle?

a licence to print money

idiom

A business that earns a lot of money with very little effort.

The popular app became a licence to print money for its creator.

Is that online store really a licence to print money?

under licence

idiom

Made or done with official permission from a company or organization.

The medicine is produced under licence in several countries.

They built the car under licence from the Japanese firm.

licence — verb

Word family

  • license
    verbB2
  • licensed
    adjectiveB2
  • licensing
    nounC1
  • licensee
    nounC1
  • licensor
    nounC2
  • licentious
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words refer to official documents that allow something, but they differ in what they prove. A 'licence' is a renewable document that gives ongoing permission to do an activity (drive, fish, sell alcohol). A 'permit' is often more specific — a parking permit allows you to park in a certain zone, a work permit lets a foreigner take a job. A 'certificate' proves that you have completed a course or passed a test (a birth certificate, a teaching certificate), but it does not by itself give ongoing permission to do an activity. 'Authorisation' refers more to the act or process of granting permission than the physical document. For example: 'The bar has a licence to sell alcohol until 2 a.m.'; 'You need a permit to park here on weekdays.'; 'She received her teaching certificate last year but still needs a school to employ her.'

permit ↗certificate ↗authorisation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • licence holder
  • licence fee
  • licence agreement
  • licence number
  • licence plate

Adverbs

  • duly licensed
  • officially licensed
  • fully licensed
  • properly licensed

Phrases

  • grant a licence
  • revoke a licence
  • renew a licence
  • apply for a licence
  • under licence
  • hold a licence

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'licentia' meaning 'freedom, liberty', which comes from 'licēre' meaning 'to be allowed'. It entered English through Old French in the 1300s, originally with the general meaning of 'freedom of action'. The specific meaning of an official document developed later. The noun/verb spelling split ('licence' vs 'license') became standard in British English in the 1700s, based on the French model (noun = licence, verb = licencier).