License or Licence: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: The correct spelling depends entirely on your audience. In American English, you always use license for both the noun and the verb. British English splits the duty, using licence for the noun and license for the action.
The Short Answer
American English uses license for noun and verb; British English uses licence for the noun.
Confusion arises because the two variants look nearly identical yet serve different grammatical roles across the Atlantic. Many writers switch between regions or copy text from international sources without adjusting the spelling, leading to inconsistent documents that confuse readers expecting a single standard.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| License | American Standard | Writing for a US audience, regardless of whether you mean the permit or the action. |
| Licence | British Noun | Referring to the physical permit or document while writing for a UK, Canadian, or Australian audience. |
| License | British Verb | Describing the act of granting permission while writing for a UK, Canadian, or Australian audience. |
| License | Universal Verb | Describing the act of granting permission in any English variant, including British English. |
Correct Example Sentences
- The city council approved the new restaurant license yesterday afternoon.
- Please ensure your drivers license remains valid while traveling abroad.
- We need to license this software for every employee in the office.
- Her art licence allows her to work as a commercial illustrator.
- The school received its operating license from the state board.
- You must license the music before using it in your video project.
- His pilot licence expired last month and needs renewal.
- The company will license its technology to international partners next year.
- A fishing license is required for all anglers over the age of sixteen.
- The university granted a research licence to the medical team.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- She applied for a new drivers licence in the United States.
- She applied for a new drivers license in the United States.
- The UK company will licence their products to overseas distributors.
- The UK company will license their products to overseas distributors.
- You need a hunting licence to go into the national park.
- You need a hunting license to go into the national park.
- The artist holds a commercial licence for her trademarked designs.
- The artist holds a commercial licence for her trademarked designs.
- We must license the server software before installation begins.
- We must license the server software before installation begins.
- His teacher licence was suspended due to misconduct.
- His teacher licence was suspended due to misconduct.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Focus on the role of the word in your sentence and your target audience. If you are describing an action, always use the spelling ending in s for any audience. If you are naming the document itself, use the spelling ending in e only for British English readers; otherwise, stick to the s version for American English consistency.
Related Word Pairs
- Practice vs Practise
- Use practice for the noun in both regions, but use practise for the verb only in British English.
- License vs Lisence
- The correct spelling always contains the letters c and e in that order; lisence is never correct.
- Licensor vs Licenser
- Use licensor for the entity granting permission; licenser is an accepted but less common variant.
- Licensee vs Licesee
- The party receiving permission is always spelled licensee with a c, never with an e in the middle.
- Permit vs License
- A permit is usually short-term and specific, while a license is often long-term and general.
More Example Sentences
- Please renew your driver's license before the current one expires.
- The bakery must display its health department license in the window.
- Canadian residents apply for a library licence at the municipal office.
- You need a special license to keep exotic pets in this county.
- The software licence agreement prohibits sharing passwords with friends.
- A fishing license can be purchased online or at the hardware store.
- The publisher granted a translation licence to the foreign house.
- Ensure your commercial driver's license matches the vehicle class.
- A building licence is required before digging the foundation.
- The musician bought a performance license for the radio station.
Quick Practice
Please hang your pilot's on the wall.
license
We need a to sell alcohol at the event.
license
The UK firm issued a software to the client.
licence
Did you renew your hunting this season?
license
A music allows you to use the song legally.
license
She applied for a teaching in Ontario.
licence
Frequently Asked Questions
Is licence ever correct in American English?
No, American English exclusively uses license for both the noun and the verb. Using licence in the US is considered a spelling error.
Why does British English have two spellings?
British English distinguishes between the noun and the verb by changing the ending. This pattern mirrors other words like practice and practise.
Can I use license for the noun in the UK?
No, in British English, you must use licence for the noun. Using license for the noun is incorrect in UK writing standards.
Which spelling is more common globally?
Because the US has a large publishing industry, license often appears more frequently online. However, UK, Australia, and Canada still prefer licence for nouns.
