Liscense vs. License: The Correct Spellings

"License" has its origins in the Latin word "licentia", which means "freedom, permission", and has passed through Old French to become the word we use today in Modern English. This term has forms like licensed, licensing, and licensee.

A simple mnemonic to remember the correct spelling of "license" is to think of the phrase "It's a SIN to misspell license". Here, the "SIN" part can remind you of the correct placement of "s" in "license".

Between "liscense" and "license", the correct spelling is "license". The primary difference is the misplaced "s" and "c" in the incorrect version "liscense".

Incorrect: The restaurant has a liscense to serve alcohol.

Correct: The restaurant has a license to serve alcohol.

Incorrect: I need to renew my fishing liscense this summer.

Correct: I need to renew my fishing license this summer.

Incorrect: He needs to get his driver's liscense next month.

Correct: He needs to get his driver's license next month.

Incorrect: She took a course to get her teaching liscense.

Correct: She took a course to get her teaching license.

Incorrect: Our company requires a software liscense to use this program.

Correct: Our company requires a software license to use this program.

License can also refer to a document or certificate giving permission.

License can indicate an excessive or undue freedom or liberty.

License is the freedom to act without restraint.

License may mean to grant a license to or permit.

Official or legal permission to engage in a regulated activity

A document, card, plate, or tag that is issued as proof of official or legal permission

A contract allowing someone to use a proprietary product or service

Freedom of action or permission to act

Poetic license.

Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom

Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior, especially with regard to sex

An excuse or justification to do something wrong

To give or yield permission to or for

To grant a license to or for; authorize.

A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.

The legal terms under which a person is allowed to use a product, especially software.

Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behaviour or speech).

Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint.

To authorize officially.

(transitive) (applied to a piece of intellectual property)

To give formal authorization to use.

To acquire authorization to use, usually in exchange for compensation.

(transitive) To give permission or freedom to; accept.

To permit (as grammatically correct).

Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act; especially, a formal permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a certain business, which without such permission would be illegal; a grant of permission; as, a license to preach, to practice medicine, to sell gunpowder or intoxicating liquors.

The document granting such permission.

Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety.

That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained; as, poetic license; grammatical license, etc.

To permit or authorize by license; to give license to; as, to license a man to preach.

a legal document giving official permission to do something

freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech)

excessive freedom; lack of due restraint;

the act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization

authorize officially;

License is a formal permission from an authority to do something.

You must have a license to fish in this lake.

To open a restaurant, you need a health department license.

The city issued a license for the new coffee shop downtown.

The software license agreement is long and complicated.

The driver's license photo does not look like me at all.

Without a license, you can't legally drive a car.

I lost my wallet with my license in it.

My brother just passed his driving test and got his license.

He was caught driving without a license.

The company's export license was approved.

The salon had its business license displayed on the wall.

She is studying hard to get her medical license.

When I turn 18, I'll apply for my motorcycle license.

The library offers a free license to access digital books.

Renewing your license online is more convenient than going in person.

The radio station's broadcast license is up for renewal.

Our license to operate the business was renewed for another year.

The pilot must have a valid license to fly.

The license plate on the car was from another state.

Our dog has a license tag on her collar.

The university grants a license to use its logo to certain vendors.

You need a license to sell alcohol in this city.

A marriage license is required to legally marry.

A commercial fishing license is quite expensive.

She showed her license to the police officer during the traffic stop.

To allow someone the freedom to behave as they wish.

Refers to someone's ability to excite or impress others.

The freedom to deviate from the facts or traditional rules in order to create a desired effect.

Yes, there are forms like licensed (past tense) and licensing (present participle).

In American English, "license" is used for both noun and verb forms. In British English, "licence" is the noun, while "license" is the verb.

"Liscense" is incorrect due to the misplaced "s" and "c". The correct spelling is "license".

The correct spelling is "license."

Think of the phrase "It's a SIN to misspell license" to recall the correct placement of "s".

Yes, a "licensee" is an individual or entity to whom a license is granted.

Yes, "license" can also mean the freedom to act without restraint or to take certain liberties.

Ensuring correct spelling, especially for terms like "license", is vital for the validity and clarity of official documents. Incorrect spelling can cause confusion or legal issues.

"License" has its roots in Latin, specifically from the word "licentia".

While both grant permission, a license often indicates a level of proficiency or qualification, while a permit often merely grants permission.