licence
|li-cence|
/ˈlaɪsəns/
official permission
Etymology
'licence' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'licentia', where 'licēre' meant 'to be permitted' or 'to be allowed'.
'licence' came into English via Old French 'licence' and Middle English 'licence', eventually becoming the modern English noun 'licence'.
Initially, it meant 'freedom' or 'liberty' in Latin, but over time it shifted toward the sense of 'official permission' that is common today.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an official document or permit that gives someone permission to do something (for example, to drive, to fish, or to operate a business).
She showed the police her driving licence.
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Noun 2
legal permission or authorization granted to carry out a regulated activity (for example, a broadcasting licence or a licence to practice medicine).
The company applied for a licence to operate in the region.
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Noun 3
freedom to act or express oneself beyond strict rules, often used in the phrase 'poetic licence' to mean liberty to deviate from fact or convention for effect.
The filmmaker took some licence with the historical events to make the story more dramatic.
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Last updated: 2026/01/17 22:45