unlicensed

Language: en

🇺🇸 /əˈnlaɪsənst/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Not having or issued with an official license or permit; operating without legal authorization.; Not authorized or sanctioned by proper authority; done without permission.; Not having a license to sell alcohol or other regulated goods.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Collocations

unlicensed driverunlicensed vehicleunlicensed softwareunlicensed practiceunlicensed premisesunlicensed operator

Derivatives

licenselicensedlicensinglicensureunlicensure

Synonyms

unauthorizedunregisteredillegalillicitillegitimate

Antonyms

licensedauthorizedlegallegitimate

Commonly confused

illegal
EN: 'Illegal' means against the law in general; 'unlicensed' specifically means lacking a required license or permit.
unauthorized
EN: 'Unauthorized' means not given official permission; 'unlicensed' specifically refers to the absence of a formal license.

Spelling tips

EN: Note the single 'c' in 'licensed' (not 'licenced' in American English; British English uses 'licence' for the noun but 'licensed' for the adjective/past participle).

💬 Examples

  1. The unlicensed taxi driver was fined by the authorities.

  2. The building was demolished for unlicensed construction work.

  3. The unlicensed restaurant could not serve wine with its meals.