Cool MateLicence vs Permit
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Licence
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B2noun
Permit
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Permit
| Licence | Permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪsns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪsns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈmɪt/","/pəˈmɪts/","/pəˈmɪtɪd/","/pəˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈmɪt/","/pərˈmɪts/","/pərˈmɪtɪd/","/pərˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A legal document that allows you to do something. | To allow something to happen. |
| Example | He obtained a driving licence after passing the test. | The teacher will permit students to leave early if they finish their exams on time. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | valid, full, special, have, hold, buy, expire, run out, fee, holder, number, in a/the licence, under a/the licence, under licence, the holder of a licence | legally, generally, normally, refuse to, be designed to, legally, generally, normally, refuse to, be designed to |
| Antonyms | prohibition, forbiddance | forbid, prohibit, ban |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'licence' (UK) with 'license' (US) spelling., Using it as a verb; remember 'license' is the verb form., Mispronouncing it as 'lice-ence' instead of 'ly-sense'. | Confused with 'allow' - 'permit' is often more formal., Using 'permit' incorrectly in passive voice without clear subject., Using 'permit' without an object, forgetting what is being permitted. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used when discussing legal permissions like driving. Less formal in everyday conversation, but still a standard term. | Use 'permit' in formal contexts, such as legal or official situations. It's less common in casual conversation, where 'let' might be more appropriate. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Licence vs Permit
What's the difference between Licence and Permit?
Licence: A legal document that allows you to do something. Permit: To allow something to happen.
Which is more common: Licence and Permit?
Permit is the most common in everyday English.
Are Licence and Permit the same CEFR level?
Licence: B2, Permit: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Licence and Permit?
Licence: noun, Permit: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Licence: He obtained a driving licence after passing the test. Permit: The teacher will permit students to leave early if they finish their exams on time.
Can I use Licence and Permit interchangeably?
Not always. Licence and Permit are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.