License - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition license

license

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[Anglo-French, literally, permission, from Old French, from Latin licentia, from licent- licens, present participle of licēre to be permitted, be for sale]
1 a : a right or permission granted by a competent authority (as of a government or a business) to engage in some business or occupation, do some act, or engage in some transaction which would be unlawful without such right or permission
;also
: a document, plate, or tag evidencing a license granted
b : revocable authority or permission given solely to one having no possessory rights in a tract of land to do something on that land which would otherwise be unlawful or a trespass compare easement, lease
c : a grant by the holder of a copyright or patent to another of any of the rights embodied in the copyright or patent short of an assignment of all rights
2 : a defense (as to trespass) that one's act was in accordance with a license granted
3 a : freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility
b : disregard for standards of personal conduct
: licentiousness
vt li·censed
li·cens·ing
1 : to issue a license to
2 : to permit or authorize by a license