licence
Definitions
An official document or permission allowing you to do, own, or use something (British spelling of the noun)
执照，许可证（license 名词的英式拼写）
Freedom to act or deviate from rules, especially in art or expression
（行动/创作上的）自由，破格（如 poetic licence）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedlicence is the British spelling of the noun license, kept closer to Old French licence (from Latin licentia, "permission"). Same word, same meaning — only British English reserves licence for the noun and license for the verb. American English writes both as license.
Root licit still carries 5 more wordsUsage Guide
licence is British and a noun only. In British English, the noun is licence (a TV licence, a driving licence) and the verb is license (the board licenses traders). American English uses license for both. So "a driving licence" is British; "a driver's license" is American. If you write the noun with an 's', a British reader will read it as the verb.
Example Sentences
- 1.
She passed her test and finally got her driving licence.
- 2.
The pub had its licence revoked after the incident.
- 3.
The screenwriter took considerable dramatic licence with the events.
Easily Confused
licence vs license — not different words, just British noun vs verb. Noun = licence (the card), verb = license (to authorize). Remember: noun licence ↔ 'card'; verb license ↔ 'issue'. Americans collapse both into license.