License
/ˈlaɪsns/noun
An official document that gives you permission to own, do, or use something.
She applied for a driver's license.
Often appears as...
- driver's license
- hunting license
verb
To give someone official permission to do something.
The software is licensed to the company.
Often appears as...
- licensed to practice
- licensed to operate
noun
Freedom to behave as you wish, especially in a way which is not acceptable.
He took that as a license to be rude.
Often appears as...
- license to kill
- moral license
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
An official document that gives you permission to own, do, or use something.
She applied for a driver's license.
Often appears as...
- driver's license
- hunting license
verb
To give someone official permission to do something.
The software is licensed to the company.
Often appears as...
- licensed to practice
- licensed to operate
noun
Freedom to behave as you wish, especially in a way which is not acceptable.
He took that as a license to be rude.
Often appears as...
- license to kill
- moral license
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Required document
Think of 'license' as a key document that unlocks the right to do certain activities legally.
Without a business license, you cannot legally start a restaurant.
Pro Tip 2/3Official approval
'License' implies government or authority approval, not just any informal permission.
You'll need a fishing license before you can legally fish in this lake.
Pro Tip 3/3Not indefinite
Licenses often have an expiration date after which they must be renewed.
Her driver's license expires next month and she needs to renew it.
Compare with
accreditorapprovalauthorizationcertificateconsentfranchisepermitsanctionwarrant
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Video examples
Are we in control of our...
They are residing in the person who is designing that form. When you walk into the DMV, the person who designed the form will have a huge influence on what you'll end up doing. Now, it's also very hard to intuit these results. Think about it for yourself. How many of you believe that if you went to renew your license tomorrow, and you went to the DMV,
Video examples
Where Your Cat Goes May...
he might walk a little jacket late first but if you see it you know a couple days ago buyer cats are really unique because they're the only pets we have that we just give free license to roam wherever they want if we let them outside people who said that they want to track their cats think they know generally where their cats go
Video examples
David Birch: A new way...
Instead of showing you my driving license, which shows you I know how to drive, what my name is, my address, all these kind of things, I show you my psychic paper, and all it tells you is, am I over 18 or not. Right. Is that just a pipe dream? Of course not, otherwise I wouldn't be here talking.
Video examples
Charmian Gooch: Meet...
despite his later denials, used his control over land and forest licenses to enrich himself and his family. And HSBC, well, we know that HSBC bankrolled the region's largest logging companies that were responsible for some of that destruction
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
Now, throughout history, men practically had a license to cheat with little consequence, and supported by a host of biological and evolutionary theories that justified their need to roam, so the double standard is as old as adultery itself.
Video examples
The Battle Between Eel...
jaws deep inside its throat slides up to chew the meal and that is alien that is the xenomorph from alien can be licensed some footage of alien to put up alongside this ah no I'm being told no we cannot afford it we begun entangling
Video examples
Attracting outside...
hundred thousand that they approved my application then there will be two gsm network in the country so we paid a hundred thousand now I am expected to get a GSM license three weeks after he called me he said
Video examples
Whatever happened to...
while strictly limiting pollution. Many critics called these allowances licenses to pollute, or said the government was selling clean air. But since the cap was set to lower five years into the program,
Video examples
Baby Flying Foxes...
of fruit you've got to train for about two years before you can get your license to actually care for flying foxes you don't have much life at all in that season
Video examples
109-Year-Old Veteran and...
I just got my license renewed this year yet they give you a kiss everything they're given our passion I feel good going on driving
Video examples
Are we in control of our...
They are residing in the person who is designing that form. When you walk into the DMV, the person who designed the form will have a huge influence on what you'll end up doing. Now, it's also very hard to intuit these results. Think about it for yourself. How many of you believe that if you went to renew your license tomorrow, and you went to the DMV,
Video examples
Where Your Cat Goes May...
he might walk a little jacket late first but if you see it you know a couple days ago buyer cats are really unique because they're the only pets we have that we just give free license to roam wherever they want if we let them outside people who said that they want to track their cats think they know generally where their cats go
Video examples
David Birch: A new way...
Instead of showing you my driving license, which shows you I know how to drive, what my name is, my address, all these kind of things, I show you my psychic paper, and all it tells you is, am I over 18 or not. Right. Is that just a pipe dream? Of course not, otherwise I wouldn't be here talking.
Video examples
Charmian Gooch: Meet...
despite his later denials, used his control over land and forest licenses to enrich himself and his family. And HSBC, well, we know that HSBC bankrolled the region's largest logging companies that were responsible for some of that destruction
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
Now, throughout history, men practically had a license to cheat with little consequence, and supported by a host of biological and evolutionary theories that justified their need to roam, so the double standard is as old as adultery itself.
Video examples
The Battle Between Eel...
jaws deep inside its throat slides up to chew the meal and that is alien that is the xenomorph from alien can be licensed some footage of alien to put up alongside this ah no I'm being told no we cannot afford it we begun entangling
Video examples
Attracting outside...
hundred thousand that they approved my application then there will be two gsm network in the country so we paid a hundred thousand now I am expected to get a GSM license three weeks after he called me he said
Video examples
Whatever happened to...
while strictly limiting pollution. Many critics called these allowances licenses to pollute, or said the government was selling clean air. But since the cap was set to lower five years into the program,
Video examples
Baby Flying Foxes...
of fruit you've got to train for about two years before you can get your license to actually care for flying foxes you don't have much life at all in that season
Video examples
109-Year-Old Veteran and...
I just got my license renewed this year yet they give you a kiss everything they're given our passion I feel good going on driving
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Julian Castro
American Politician
But one of the most enjoyable things for me is that running for office gives you this license to enter the world of somebody else and to hear about the dreams that they have for themselves, for their family, for the country.
Quote examples
Loretta Swit
American Actress
Acting is not hiding to me; it's revealing. We give you license to feel. 'Hey, she's crying, so it's okay if I cry, too.' That's the most important thing in the world, because when you stop feeling, that's when you're dead.
Quote examples
Gary Payton
American Athlete
My dad was known as a mean guy. He never smiled, and he had 'Mr. Mean' put on his license plate. But he was one of the neighborhood dads who looked out for everyone. He would take kids in and help them out.
Quote examples
Robert Cailliau
Belgian Scientist
If you operate a TV or radio station, you have to have a license. It has nothing to do with fundamental freedom. It has to do with protection of the average citizen against abuses.
Quote examples
Ted Sarandos
American Businessman
Typically, if you buy a studio with a library, their library is pretty well licensed out many years in advance, so you are not really gaining access to the programming in that way.
Quote examples
Sarah Silverman
American Comedian
Traditionally, I have no right to talk about race. I'm white; I didn't grow up in an all-black neighborhood. But the license I see for myself is I'm a member of the world.
Quote examples
Sebastian Stan
American Actor
You have license in front of the camera to do things, feel certain emotions that you don't get to in real life. It can be addicting.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
Call a man 'ignorant,' and you have license to show the world your vast fund of knowledge and wise him up.
Quote examples
Steve Wozniak
American Businessman
I believe you should have a world where you've got to license something at a fair price.
Quote examples
Gavin Newsom
American Politician
Do I support a driver's license for everybody? The answer is yes.
Quote examples
Julian Castro
American Politician
But one of the most enjoyable things for me is that running for office gives you this license to enter the world of somebody else and to hear about the dreams that they have for themselves, for their family, for the country.
Quote examples
Loretta Swit
American Actress
Acting is not hiding to me; it's revealing. We give you license to feel. 'Hey, she's crying, so it's okay if I cry, too.' That's the most important thing in the world, because when you stop feeling, that's when you're dead.
Quote examples
Gary Payton
American Athlete
My dad was known as a mean guy. He never smiled, and he had 'Mr. Mean' put on his license plate. But he was one of the neighborhood dads who looked out for everyone. He would take kids in and help them out.
Quote examples
Robert Cailliau
Belgian Scientist
If you operate a TV or radio station, you have to have a license. It has nothing to do with fundamental freedom. It has to do with protection of the average citizen against abuses.
Quote examples
Ted Sarandos
American Businessman
Typically, if you buy a studio with a library, their library is pretty well licensed out many years in advance, so you are not really gaining access to the programming in that way.
Quote examples
Sarah Silverman
American Comedian
Traditionally, I have no right to talk about race. I'm white; I didn't grow up in an all-black neighborhood. But the license I see for myself is I'm a member of the world.
Quote examples
Sebastian Stan
American Actor
You have license in front of the camera to do things, feel certain emotions that you don't get to in real life. It can be addicting.
Quote examples
P. J. O'Rourke
American Comedian
Call a man 'ignorant,' and you have license to show the world your vast fund of knowledge and wise him up.
Quote examples
Steve Wozniak
American Businessman
I believe you should have a world where you've got to license something at a fair price.
Quote examples
Gavin Newsom
American Politician
Do I support a driver's license for everybody? The answer is yes.
Example 1 of 10
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