2 syllables: li, censed. Stress on li.
LEYE-suhnst
/ˈlaɪsənst/
licensed is pronounced LEYE-suhnst (/ˈlaɪsənst/). It has two syllables (li-censed), with the stress on "li". Licensed is the past participle and adjective form of license, typically meaning someone who has been granted official permission. In everyday use it also describes products or services that carry official authorization. The word is pronounced with a light, clipped first syllable and a final -t sound, often reduced in rapid speech.
Licensed is the past participle and adjective form of license, typically meaning someone who has been granted official permission. In everyday use it also describes products or services that carry official authorization. The word is pronounced with a light, clipped first syllable and a final -t sound, often reduced in rapid speech.
"The licensed driver completed the test and received a badge."
"Only licensed professionals may operate the machinery."
"They bought a licensed software package with proper registration."
Pronounce as /ˈlaɪ.sənst/ (US) or /ˈlaɪ.sənst/ (UK). The first syllable carries primary stress: "LYE-suhnst." The final cluster /st/ is a voiceless alveolar stop release after /n/. In quick speech, the middle vowel often reduces to a schwa. Audio references: consult dictionaries with speaker audio to hear the subtle vowel length and the /s/ following the vowel before /t/; focus on keeping /ˈlaɪ/ distinct and avoiding a trailing /d/ sound.
Two frequent errors: (1) pronouncing the middle as /z/ rather than /s/ due to links with license; keep the middle as a short /ən/ with a light schwa. (2) Adding a /d/ sound before the final /t/ (laɪsændst). Correct by ending with /sənst/ and ensuring the /t/ is a crisp voicelike release after /n/. Practice by isolating the /n/ and /st/ sequence with a clean stop.
US and UK share the primary /ˈlaɪ.sənst/. In some US dialects you may hear a slightly open /ə/ before /n/ or a more pronounced /s/ assimilation, while some UK speakers may link the /s/ and /n/ more tightly, producing a smoother /ˈlaɪ.sənst/. Australian speech tends to have a flatter, shorter first vowel and a more clipped /t/ release; still, the main stress remains on the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the final consonant cluster /nst/ after a reduced vowel. The transition from the syllabic nucleus /i/ to the alveolar nasal /n/ and then the /st/ release requires precise timing and mouth posture. Beginners often insert an extra /d/ or mispronounce the /ə/ in the second syllable. Focus on closing the mouth quickly after /n/ and producing a clean, voiceless /t/ after /s/.
A key feature is the /ˈlaɪ/ onset with a short, unstressed /ə/ in the second syllable, which leads into an /n/ before the /st/ cluster. The common pitfall is turning /ən/ into /iən/ or inserting a /d/. Emphasize the clean /n/ before the /st/, and maintain a crisp, voiceless /t/ at the end for natural, native-sounding pronunciation.
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Licensed derives from the noun license, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia “freedom, permission, license,” from licere “to be allowed.” The term entered English via Norman influence in the 13th century, originally referring to freedom or permission granted by authority. Over time, the meaning narrowed to formal permission granted to individuals (like driving or practicing a trade) and to products or services carrying official authorization. The modern sense emphasizes the state-held or institution-granted permission, and as adjectives, it describes persons or items that possess such authorization. The word’s core sense—permission granted by law or institution—remains stable, while the exact domains of “licensed” have broadened with regulatory and professional developments. First known uses appear in medieval legal and administrative texts when monarchies and guilds codified who could engage in certain activities or sell certain goods. In contemporary usage, “licensed” is common in contexts like driving, professional practice, and intellectual property, where formal permission is a prerequisite to operation or distribution.
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Words that rhyme with "licensed"
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