licence
noun
UK uk/ˈlaɪsəns/ us( US license) [ C ] LAW, GOVERNMENT
an official document from the government, court, etc. that gives you permission to do, have, or own something:
a driving/driver's/pilot's licence The bank will insist you produce a driving licence or passport as a form of ID.
a business/operating licence
a gun/firearms licence
If there is any delay, the licence holder can be fined.
grant/issue a licence The council granted a licence that allowed the premises to stay open until 3 am.
have/hold/get a licence
own/apply for/renew a licence
refuse/suspend/take away a licence
a licence expires/runs out
Compare
permit noun
[ C ] LAW, COMMERCE, IT
permission given by a company to produce or use something that they have created or that belongs to them:
a software/publishing licence
licence for sth A licence for PC network use costs £900.
licence to do sth a licence to publish the book throughout the world
[ U ]
permission or freedom to do what you want:
licence to do sth
He thought his position allowed him licence to be rude.
licence to print money usually disapproving
a situation in which a person or organization is given the permission or opportunity to become very rich without much effort:
Healthcare should not be seen as a licence to print money for the private sector.
under licence
LAW, COMMERCE
with permission from the person or company who has created a product:
It can appoint a foreign company to manufacture its product under licence.
See also
export licence
import licence
letter of licence
practicing license