“licence” vs. “license”
American English: use "license" for both noun and verb. British English: use "licence" as the noun, "license" as the verb.
licence
"Licence" is the British English spelling used specifically as a noun, meaning official permission or a document granting permission to do something ("a driving licence," "a business licence"). Both spellings come from Latin "licentia" (freedom, liberty), by way of Old French, but British English preserved a noun/verb spelling distinction (licence/license) similar to "practice/practise" and "advice/advise."
license
"License" is used in American English for both the noun and verb forms alike ("a driver's license," "to license a product"), while in British English, "license" is reserved specifically for the verb form ("the council licensed the vendor"). The word traces to the same Latin "licentia," but American spelling reform in the nineteenth century collapsed the noun/verb distinction that British English retained.
The real distinction
This pair isn't a case of different meanings but of different regional spelling conventions for the same underlying concept — official permission or authorization. American English uses "license" for everything, whether noun or verb (a driver's license; to license software). British English preserves a French-style noun/verb split: "licence" is the noun (a licence to practice law), and "license" is the verb (to license a practitioner). Writers producing content for American audiences should default to "license" throughout; writers producing British English content need to track whether the word functions as a noun or verb in each sentence. Mixing the two systems inconsistently within a single document is the most common error, since spellcheckers set to one region will often silently "correct" the other spelling. Publishing style guides always flag this pair for British-audience content, since inconsistent use across a single document looks like a proofreading failure. American style guides sidestep the issue entirely, since "license" covers both roles, making cross-border content especially prone to error when writers switch between audiences without adjusting the spelling convention.
Examples with “licence”
- He renewed his driving licence at the post office. (British)
- The pub's licence was suspended after the incident. (British)
- She applied for a fishing licence before the trip. (British)
- The restaurant's liquor licence expires next month. (British)
- A valid licence is required to operate the crane. (British)
- The council revoked the taxi driver's licence. (British)
- Her professional licence allowed her to practice in three countries. (British)
- The shop displayed its trading licence near the entrance. (British)
- He lost his driving licence after the third offense. (British)
- The off-licence closed early on public holidays. (British)
- Her teaching licence required annual renewal. (British)
- The pharmacist's licence hung framed behind the counter. (British)
- Her broadcasting licence was reviewed annually. (British)
- The vendor's street licence was checked by an inspector. (British)
- Renewing the licence took less time than expected. (British)
- Her nursing licence required continuing education credits. (British)
- The gun licence application took nearly six months. (British)
Examples with “license”
- She renewed her driver's license at the DMV. (American)
- The state licenses electricians after a rigorous exam. (verb, either dialect)
- His medical license was suspended pending review. (American)
- The company licensed its software to overseas partners. (verb, either dialect)
- They obtained a liquor license for the new restaurant. (American)
- The board licensed three new pharmacies this year. (verb, either dialect)
- Her fishing license was valid for the entire season. (American)
- The city licensed food trucks to operate downtown. (American)
- The board licenses new drivers after a written exam. (verb)
- They licensed the technology to a major manufacturer. (verb)
- The state licensed dozens of new clinics last year. (verb)
- The agency licenses contractors after a background check. (verb)
- The studio licensed the song for the commercial. (verb)
- The city licenses food carts each spring. (verb)
- Regulators licensed the new drug after years of trials. (verb)
- The council licenses street performers each summer. (verb)
Memory trick
Remember "advice/advise" and "practice/practise" as British sibling pairs — "licence" with a "c" is the noun, just like "advice" with a "c" is the noun. American English simplifies everything to "license" with an "s," one spelling for every use.