license
LYE-suns
/ˈlaɪsəns/
A legal document giving official permission to own, use, or do something, such as operate a motor vehicle independently.
Implies full legal competency and full authorization, unlike conditional permits.
The story behind the word. The Latin verb 'licere' meant 'to be lawful'. Its noun derivative 'licentia' passed into Anglo-Norman French as 'licence'. In early English law, a licence was a grant from the Crown allowing a citizen to engage in trade or actions otherwise restricted to the sovereign.
Word relationships
- permit: A permit is generally temporary or instructional, whereas a license grants standard operational authority.
- ban: A ban explicitly forbids an activity, whereas a license formally grants authority to perform it.
Commonly confused with
- endorsement: A license allows general driving, while an endorsement adds permission for specialized vehicles like motorcycles or commercial rigs.
Word family
- licensing (noun): The process or granting of licenses.
- licensee (noun): A person who holds a license.
Collocations
- driver's license
- valid license
- issue a license
- suspend a license
Example sentences
- "In most jurisdictions, holding a valid driver's license is viewed as a revocable privilege rather than an absolute right." Legal Privilege
- "Upon passing the practical maneuver test, the applicant was issued a full driver's license without supervision requirements." Road Test Result
Memory hook
LICENse gives you LIberty to drive legally. LICENSE = LIberty to drive.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a temporary permit or an endorsement, which is an addition to a license.
Fun facts
- Prussia issued the first driver's license to Karl Benz, inventor of the modern automobile, in 1888 after residents complained about noisy steam cars.
Explore more words
easement, give permission, asset, syndication, intellectual property, authorize
Also appears in
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