different between sanction vs license

English

Etymology

From Middle French sanction, from Latin sanctio.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?sæ?k??n/

Noun

sanction (countable and uncountable, plural sanctions)

1. An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.

2. A penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body.

3. A law, treaty, or contract, or a clause within a law, treaty, or contract, specifying any of the above.

Translations

Verb

sanction (third-person singular simple present sanctions, present participle sanctioning, simple past and past participle sanctioned)

1. (transitive) To ratify; to make valid.
2. (transitive) To give official authorization or approval to; to countenance.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.21:

     Many of the most earnest Protestants were business men, to whom lending money at interest was essential. Consequently first Calvin, and then other Protestant divines, sanctioned interest.

3. (transitive) To penalize (a state etc.) with sanctions.

Translations

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928) , “Sanction”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 2 (S–Sh), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 82, column 1.

Anagrams

• actinons, canonist, cantions, contains

French

Etymology

From Latin sanctio

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??k.sj??/

Noun

sanction f (plural sanctions)

1. sanction

Further reading

• “sanction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Alternative forms

• (British, Canadian, Australian, Irish, South African and New Zealand English) licence (noun)

Etymology

From Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek ????? (leíp?, “leave”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?la?s?ns/
• Hyphenation: li?cense

Noun

license (countable and uncountable, plural licenses)

1. A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.
2. The legal terms under which a person is allowed to use a product, especially software.
3. Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behaviour or speech).
4. Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint.
5. Short for driver's license.

Usage notes

• In British English, Canadian English, Australian English, Irish English, South African English and New Zealand English the noun is spelt licence and the verb is license.
• The spelling licence is not used for either part of speech in the United States.

Derived terms

Related terms

• licensure
• licentious

Translations

Verb

license (third-person singular simple present licenses, present participle licensing, simple past and past participle licensed)

1. Authorize officially.

2. (transitive) (applied to a piece of intellectual property)
   1. To give formal authorization to use.
   2. To acquire authorization to use, usually in exchange for compensation.
3. (linguistics, transitive) To permit (as grammatically correct).

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• license in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• license in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Licence in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

Anagrams

• selenic, silence