Freedom vs. License — What's the Difference?

Freedom, generally, is having the ability to act or change without constraint. Something is "free" if it can change easily and is not constrained in its present state.

A license (American English) or licence (British English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit).A license is granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement between those parties. In the case of a license issued by a government, the license is obtained by applying for it.

The condition of not being in prison or captivity

Official or legal permission to engage in a regulated activity

The condition of being free of restraints, especially the ability to act without control or interference by another or by circumstance

A document, card, plate, or tag that is issued as proof of official or legal permission

The condition of not being controlled by another nation or political power; political independence.

A contract allowing someone to use a proprietary product or service

The condition of not being subject to a despotic or oppressive power; civil liberty.

Freedom of action or permission to act

The condition of not being constrained or restricted in a specific aspect of life by a government or other power

Poetic license.

The condition of not being a slave.

Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom

The condition of not being affected or restricted by a given circumstance or condition

Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior, especially with regard to sex

The condition of not being bound by established conventions or rules

An excuse or justification to do something wrong

The capacity to act by choice rather than by determination, as from fate or a deity; free will

To give or yield permission to or for

The right to unrestricted use; full access

To grant a license to or for; authorize.

Ease or facility of movement

A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit.

(Archaic) Boldness in behavior; lack of modesty or reserve.

The legal terms under which a person is allowed to use a product, especially software.

(uncountable) The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behaviour or speech).

(countable) The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.

Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint.

The right or privilege of unrestricted use or access

To authorize officially.

Frankness; openness; unreservedness.

(transitive) (applied to a piece of intellectual property)

Improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum.

To give formal authorization to use.

The state of being free; exemption from the power and control of another; liberty; independence.

To acquire authorization to use, usually in exchange for compensation.

Privileges; franchises; immunities.

(transitive) To give permission or freedom to; accept.

Exemption from necessity, in choise and action; as, the freedom of the will.

To permit (as grammatically correct).

Ease; facility; as, he speaks or acts with freedom.

Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act; especially, a formal permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a certain business, which without such permission would be illegal; a grant of permission; as, a license to preach, to practice medicine, to sell gunpowder or intoxicating liquors.

Frankness; openness; unreservedness.

The document granting such permission.

Improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum; license.

Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety.

Generosity; liberality.

That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained; as, poetic license; grammatical license, etc.

The condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

To permit or authorize by license; to give license to; as, to license a man to preach.

Immunity from an obligation or duty

A legal document giving official permission to do something

Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech)

Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint;

The act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization

Authorize officially;