licence
Plurallicences
US spellinglicense
- 1Legal permission to do or use something, or the card, paper or agreement that gives it and sets the rules.
My brother passed his test and finally got his driving licence.
You need a licence to fish in this river.
UsageSpell the noun licence and the verb license: a licence, but licensed to drive.
Similarpermit, permission, authorisation
- 2Freedom to break the usual rules on purpose, especially in what you say or do.
The film takes some licence with the true story to make it more exciting.
Comedians are given a lot of licence to say rude things on stage.
UsageOften in artistic licence, or take licence with a story.
- 3Too much freedom, so that people do not control their behaviour as they should.
Some parents worry that too much freedom can turn into licence.
The new head said pupils had been given too much licence for years.
Similardebauchery, dissipation, excess, abandon
Oppositerestraint, discipline, decorum
Practice
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Origin
It comes, through French, from a Latin word that goes back to licere, “to be allowed”.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The word comes through French from Latin. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin source ultimately derives from licere. en.wiktionary.org
- Licere means to be allowed. en.wiktionary.org