driver's license/driving licence
driver's license/driving licence
Pronunciation
driver's license
/ˈdraɪvərz ˈlaɪsns/
driv-: /draɪv/
-er's: /ərz/
li-: /laɪ/
-cense: /sns/
driving licence
/ˈdraɪvɪŋ ˈlaɪsns/
driv-: /draɪv/
-ing: /ɪŋ/
li-: /laɪ/
-cense: /sns/
Word Form Variations
Singular: driver's license, driving licence
Plural: driver's licenses, driving licences
Possessive (singular): driver's license's (e.g., "The driver's license's expiry date is tomorrow.") - Less common in everyday use, often rephrased.
Possessive (plural): drivers' licenses, driving licences' (e.g., "The drivers' licenses were all renewed.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
driver's license / driving licence
An official document, typically a card issued by a government authority, that certifies an individual is legally permitted to operate a motor vehicle on public roads. It usually includes the holder's photograph, personal details, and categories of vehicles they are authorized to drive.
Synonyms: driving permit, motorist's license, auto license, car license
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it represents authorization. One might consider "unlicensed driving" as the absence of this.)
(Figurative, informal) The legal or practical authorization to proceed with or accomplish a particular task or activity, often implying the necessary skill or permission has been granted.
Synonyms: permission, authorization, clearance, green light, mandate, charter
Antonyms: prohibition, refusal, denial, ban, interdiction
Examples of Use
Books:
"He fumbled in his wallet for his driver's license, a faded picture staring back at him from his younger days, before the lines of worry etched his face."
In On the Road by Jack Kerouac, Sal Paradise's journey is often punctuated by interactions with law enforcement where a driving licence is a necessary credential for continuing their adventurous travels across the country.
Newspapers:
"New regulations propose a digital driver's license option for residents, aiming to streamline identification processes." (The Daily Chronicle)
"Police are urging motorists to ensure their driving licence is valid and up-to-date following a spate of recent traffic stops for expired documents." (Local Gazette)
Online Publications:
"How to Renew Your Driver's License Online: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2025" (https://www.google.com/search?q=MotoristHub.com, January 2025)
"The debate over whether to include organ donor status directly on the driving licence continues to spark discussion among advocacy groups." (Health & Policy Review)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Baby Driver, the protagonist's exceptional driving skills are constantly on display, yet the legality of his operations often hinges on the presence, or absence, of a valid driver's license.
Television Series: "The detective asked the suspect to produce his driver's license, meticulously checking the details against his notes." (From an episode of Law & Order, aired March 2024)
Video Game: "You need to complete the advanced driving test to upgrade your driving licence and unlock faster vehicles in the game." (In-game tutorial for Grand Theft Auto VI, released December 2025)
Song Lyrics: "Got my driver's license, last night / Cause we went through everything" (From Olivia Rodrigo's song "driver's license," January 2021)
General Public Discourse:
"I lost my wallet last week and the first thing I worried about was my driver's license – it's such a hassle to replace."
"My son just turned 16 and he's already planning his trips once he gets his driving licence."
"Do you need your physical driver's license for identity verification, or will a digital copy suffice at the airport?"
"The instructor reminded me that failing to indicate could cost me points on my driving licence."
10 Quotes Using Driver's license/Driving licence
"You cannot drive the car if you do not have a driver's license." (Bikram Choudhury)
"I have never been able to remember the number of my driver's license, and there have been times when I couldn't even remember my own telephone number, but when I hear a song, sometimes only once, I never forget the melody or the lyric." (Marlon Brando)1
"It's one of the disadvantages of succeeding early. I missed simple things like having a driver's license. I think everyone has one." (Kylian Mbappe)
"I have no driver's license, so I ride a bicycle beside the Han River." (RM)
"I have Marvin Gaye's driver's license." (R. Kelly)
"There's a rumour going 'round that if you amass a certain number of penalty points on your driving licence, the authorities will make you take your test again!" (Jasper Carrott)
"I lurch from chaos to chaos. I can't find my driving licence and my clothes are everywhere - cooking is the neatest thing I do." (Nigella Lawson, from Envy, Lust and Gluttony - the Perfect Recipe by Jane Warren, www.express.co.uk, September 2007)
"When I got my licence I was over the moon, it was one of the greatest days of my life - it took two years to get!" (Jay Kay)
"I didn't get my licence because I wasn't allowed to. But I haven't had a seizure for a long time so I could, theoretically, get my licence." (Hugo Weaving)
"I have a driver's licence, but the truth is that I hardly ever drive." (Ferran Adria)
Etymology
The term "driver's license" or "driving licence" essentially combines two older words to describe a modern concept.
Driver/Driving: These words come from the verb "drive," which has very old roots. Originally, "drive" meant to push or impel, often referring to herding animals or moving something forward. Over time, as technology developed, it evolved to mean controlling a vehicle.
License/Licence: This word comes from the Latin word licentia, meaning "freedom, liberty, permission." It has been used in English since the late 14th century to mean "formal authorization" or "official permission."
So, "driver's license" literally means "permission to drive."
The concept of a formal document for operating a vehicle emerged as automobiles became more common. The very first instance of such a "permit" was given to Karl Benz (inventor of the modern car) in Germany in 1888, after people complained about the noise and smell of his car. This was more of a personal permission slip.
The first known use of the specific phrase "driver's licence" in print dates back to the 1860s, with an early mention in "Allen's Indian Mail" in 1863. "Driving licence" appeared slightly later, in the 1870s, with evidence from 1874.
These terms started being used as governments began to realize the need to regulate the growing number of vehicles and ensure that the people operating them had some level of competence, for public safety. New York was one of the first places in the US to require drivers to have a license in 1903, and the UK introduced similar laws effective January 1, 1904. Initially, these licenses often only required a fee and an application, but over time, driving tests and stricter requirements became the norm, leading to the formalized "driver's license" we know today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Driver's license/Driving licence
"To lose one's driver's license": To have one's driving privileges revoked, usually due to infractions.
"To get your driver's license": To obtain the legal certification to drive for the first time.
"To surrender your driving licence": To voluntarily give up your driving privileges, often due to age or health.
"A clean driver's license": Referring to a driving record free of violations or demerit points.
"To treat something like a driver's license": (Original/Lesser-known) To treat something as an essential or non-negotiable prerequisite. (e.g., "He treats a good credit score like a driver's license for financial freedom.")
"The ultimate driver's license": (Original/Lesser-known) Referring to something that grants ultimate freedom or authority in a particular domain. (e.g., "Having an unlimited budget felt like the ultimate driver's license for the project.")
"To be issued a license to...": (Using "license" as a synonym) To be given official permission or freedom to do something. (e.g., "He felt he'd been issued a license to print money with his new business idea.")
"Having a blank check for...": (Using a related concept of permission/authorization) Having unlimited authority or resources for a task.
"To get the keys to the car": (Similar effect to getting a license) To be given control or responsibility.
"A green light to proceed": (Similar effect to being licensed) To be given permission to move forward with something.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of driver's license/driving licence from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
