( BrE ) ( NAmE li·cense ) / ˈlaɪsns; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] licence (for sth) | licence (to do sth) an official document that shows that permission has been given to do, own or use sth :
a driving licence
a licence for the software
Is there a licence fee?
James lost his licence for six months (= had his licence taken away by the police as a punishment) .
You need a licence to fish in this river.
a licence holder (= a person who has been given a licence)
2.
[ U , sing. ] licence (to do sth) ( formal ) freedom to do or say whatever you want, often sth bad or unacceptable :
Lack of punishment seems to give youngsters licence to break the law.
3.
[ U ] ( formal ) freedom to behave in a way that is considered sexually immoral
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IDIOMS
- artistic / poetic licence
- a licence to print money
- under licence
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin licentia freedom, sexually immoral behaviour (in medieval Latin authority, permission), from licere be lawful or permitted.