Basic Details
Word: License
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To give someone official permission to do, own or sell something.
Synonyms: permit, authorise, allow, certify
Antonyms: ban, forbid, prohibit
Sounds like: licence (the noun in British English: an official paper giving permission, such as a driving licence)
Word origin: Comes from Latin licentia, freedom, from licere, to be allowed.
How to Spell License
Syllables: li - cense
Tricky part: The c comes first and the s second: li-c-en-s-e. In British English the verb ends in -se, while the noun is spelt licence, ending in -ce.
Watch out for: lisence, licens, lisense
Memory tip: It works like advice and advise: c for the noun, s for the verb. The council issues a licence (noun) and licenses (verb) the shop.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The state transport office licenses every autorickshaw that carries passengers.
Example 2: Only shops that are licensed by the government may sell fireworks before Diwali.
Example 3: The museum has licensed a company to print its paintings on posters.
Fun Fact
The freedom that writers take to bend the rules of grammar or facts for effect is called poetic licence, spelt with a c because it is a noun.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to license as used in the sentence:
The city corporation has decided to license two new private schools in our ward next year.
a) forbid
b) approve
c) permit
d) authorise
Show answer
a) forbid. To license is to give official permission, so forbid is the opposite; the other three mean much the same as license.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
l_c_nse
a) y, e
b) i, e
c) i, i
d) e, i
Show answer
b) i, e. The verb is li-cense, an i after the l and an e before the n.
Spell-o-Spell
One word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. licens 2. inaugurate 3. confiscate 4. renovate
a) to open a new building or start something with a ceremony
b) to give official permission for someone to do or own something
c) to take something away officially as a punishment
d) to repair and improve an old building
Show answer
b) to give official permission for someone to do or own something. Licens has lost its final e; the verb is license.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The ministry will cneelis three new radio stations in the north-east next year.
a) license
b) lessen
c) liken
d) lengthen
Show answer
a) license. The seven letters, with one c and one s, spell license; lessen, liken and lengthen do not use a c at all.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A chemist's shop that is licensed to sell medicines has ____.
a) run out of medicines
b) a new owner this year
c) official permission to do so
d) a rule against doing so
Show answer
c) official permission to do so
2. In British English, which pair is right?
a) a license (noun), to licence (verb)
b) a lisence (noun), to license (verb)
c) a licence (noun), to licence (verb)
d) a licence (noun), to license (verb)
Show answer
d) a licence (noun), to license (verb)
