# licence

Pronunciation: say "LY-suhns" UK/US /ˈlaɪ.səns/, AUS /ˈlɑe.səns/

## Noun

1. Legal permission to do, own or use something, or the document or agreement that grants it and sets out its terms.
   - Simple: Legal permission to do or use something, or the card, paper or agreement that gives it and sets the rules.
   - _The pub could lose its licence if it keeps serving alcohol after closing time._
   - _Anyone who watches live television in the UK needs a TV licence._
2. Freedom to depart on purpose from the usual rules or conventions, particularly in conduct or speech.
   - Simple: Freedom to break the usual rules on purpose, especially in what you say or do.
   - _The director used a good deal of artistic licence, moving the battle to a different year._
   - _As the host, she had licence to tease the guests in a way nobody else could._
3. Freedom taken to excess, with no proper check on how one behaves.
   - Simple: Too much freedom, so that people do not control their behaviour as they should.
   - _Critics complained that the festival had slipped from celebration into drunken licence._
   - _The young king's court became notorious for its licence and extravagance._

## Origin

From Middle English licence (also spelled licens, lisence and in other ways), from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“licence”), from licens, the present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”).

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/licence (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).