Unlicensed

How to spell unlicensed

10 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce unlicensed

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does unlicensed mean?

1. adjectiveLacking the official permit or authorisation that the law requires for an activity, premises, or person.

Unlicensed in a sentence

• The council shut down the unlicensed taxi firm operating from the warehouse.

• Selling alcohol from an unlicensed shop can lead to a heavy fine.

Where does unlicensed come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word is built on 'license', which traces back to the Latin verb licere, meaning 'to be allowed' or 'to be permitted'. From that verb came the noun licentia, which meant freedom or permission to do something, and in later use the official leave granted by an authority. English took the word in through Old French 'licence' during the 1300s, and a curious split developed: British writers came to spell the noun 'licence' but the verb 'license', while American usage settled on 'license' for both. Because 'unlicensed' is formed from the verb form rather than the noun, it keeps the -s- spelling in every dialect, which is why this particular word does not vary across the Atlantic. The prefix 'un-' simply negates it, marking the absence of the required official permission.

How the word is built

• un- (not)
• licens(e) (from Latin licentia: permission, freedom)
• -ed (adjective-forming suffix)