The difference between licence and license

Licence and license are both correct — they mean the same thing, but the spelling depends on where you live and what part of speech you need. In British English, licence is the noun (the document itself) and license is the verb (the action of giving permission). In American English, license is spelled the same way for both the noun and the verb.

If you are writing for a British audience or following British style rules, use licence when you mean the document or permission slip — "I need a driving licence." Use license when you mean the act of permitting — "The government will license the new business." If you are writing in American English, use license for both.

The confusion exists because English borrowed this word from French, where -ce and -se endings follow the same noun-versus-verb pattern. That split stuck in British English but never took hold in American usage.

Key Takeaways

  • In British English, licence is the noun (the document) and license is the verb (to permit).
  • In American English, license is spelled the same way whether you use it as a noun or a verb.
  • If you are unsure which spelling to use, check the style guide for your publication or the region your writing is intended for.
  • The same noun-verb split applies to related words: practise versus practice and advise versus information in British English.

When to use licence (British English)

Use licence in British English when you are talking about the actual document or the permission it grants. Examples include a driving licence, a business licence, a television licence, or a liquor licence. The word functions as a noun — it names the thing itself.

"She applied for her driving licence at age seventeen." "The pub's liquor licence was suspended for two weeks." "You cannot operate a taxi without a valid licence." In each case, licence is the object — the physical or legal document that proves permission.

When to use license (British English verb)

In British English, use license as a verb when you mean to grant permission or to authorize someone to do something. The government licenses businesses. A doctor is licensed to practice medicine. A software company licenses its product to users.

"The council will license the new restaurant next month." "We are licensed to sell alcohol on these premises." "The manufacturer licenses the technology to other companies." The verb describes the action of giving or holding permission, not the document itself.

American English: license for everything

In American English, license is the standard spelling for both noun and verb. You do not need to choose between two spellings — use license in all cases. "She got her driver's license." "The state will license the new facility." "A licensed electrician must install this equipment."

American dictionaries and style guides (including AP, Chicago, and MLA) all use license as the single correct form. If you are writing for an American publication, website, or audience, use license and do not second-guess it.

How to remember which spelling to use

A useful memory trick for British English: the noun licence ends in -ce, just like information (also a noun). The verb license ends in -se, just like advise (also a verb). If you can remember that information and licence are nouns, and advise and license are verbs, you will get the spelling right.

Another way to think about it: in British English, nouns often end in -ce and verbs in -se. This pattern holds for practice (noun) versus practise (verb) as well. Once you see the pattern, it becomes easier to explore it consistently.

What style guide should I follow

If your workplace, school, or publication has a style guide, follow that first. Most British organizations use the Oxford Dictionary or the BBC style guide, both of which follow the licence-versus-license distinction. Most American organizations use AP Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style, or MLA, all of which use license for everything.

If you are writing for a website or publication and do not know which style guide applies, ask your editor or check the organization's existing published work. Consistency within a single document or website matters more than which spelling you choose, as long as it matches the intended audience's expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is licence ever correct in American English?

No. American English uses license for both noun and verb. If you see licence in American writing, it is either a spelling error or the text was written by someone following British conventions. Stick with license for all American audiences.

What about related words like licensed or licensing?

The spelling of the root word carries through. In British English, licensed and licensing come from the verb license, so they keep the -se-. In American English, they come from license as well. The derived forms do not change the rule — follow the spelling of the root word in your region.

Do I need to use British spelling if I am British but writing for an American audience?

No. If your audience is American, use American spelling — license for everything. The reader's expectations matter more than your personal spelling habits. If you are unsure, check what the publication or website already uses in similar contexts.

Are there other words with this noun-verb spelling split in British English?

Yes. Practise (verb) versus practice (noun), advise (verb) versus information (noun), and devise (verb) versus device (noun) all follow the same pattern in British English. American English uses the same spelling for both forms in these words too.