[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/licence/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [L](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/l/) / licence

# licence

noun (a licence, licences); (US spelling: license)

«licence» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A licence is an official paper or card that gives you permission to do or own something, such as drive a car, catch fish or sell food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#m1)
2. Licence can also mean freedom to do or say what you like («poetic licence» means a writer may change facts or rules for effect). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life adults need a driving licence to drive and a TV licence in the UK; shops may need a licence to sell certain things. Laws link licences to safety: only trained people can do some jobs. Phrases: «driving licence», «fishing licence», «licence plate» (US: license plate), «poetic licence».

### Examples

- Mum showed her driving licence to the police officer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x1)
- You need a licence to fish in this river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x2)
- In the UK, families pay for a TV licence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x3)
- Dad lost his licence for speeding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x4)
- The café has a licence to sell food on the beach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x5)
- The writer used poetic licence and made the castle taller. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x6)
- My big brother just got his learner's licence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x7)
- The shop's licence is on the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/#x8)

### Note

British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand English: noun «licence», verb «license» (to give permission). American English uses «license» for both. Canada mostly uses «licence» for the noun. Remember: «c» for the noun, like «advice/advise» and «practice/practise».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «licence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/licence/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«licence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/licence.html) on Mova free.