the act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization
"The city council voted to license all new food trucks operating within downtown limits."
A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.
"The city clerk issued me a license to operate my food truck after I passed all the health inspections."
In plain English: A license is an official permission that lets you do something specific by law.
"He displayed his driver's license to the police officer."
Usage: Use "license" as a noun to refer to an official government permit that grants specific privileges or authorizes certain actions, such as a driver's license or business license. Do not confuse this with the verb form, which means to give permission, though they share the same spelling in American English.
Authorize officially.
"The city council voted to license the new restaurant after it passed all health inspections."
In plain English: To license something means to give someone official permission to do or use it.
"The manager decided to license the new software for all employees."
Usage: To license something means to grant official permission or authority for it to operate or be used. You typically use this verb when a government body or an organization formally authorizes a specific activity, such as licensing a driver or a business.
The word license comes from the Latin licentia, meaning "permission" or "freedom to act." It entered English through Middle French and Old French, carrying its original sense of being allowed to do something.