What does licensable mean?
Licensable is an adjective meaning that something can be licensed, or is eligible to be used with official permission. The word is especially common in discussions of patents, software, media, inventions, and other intellectual property. A licensable product may be made, distributed, or used by another party in return for payment or according to agreed legal terms. It does not itself mean that permission has been granted; it indicates that permission could be obtained through licensing. In everyday use, licensable is more technical than permissible, but the two terms can overlap: permissible describes what is allowed, while licensable specifically points to a licensing arrangement. The word is useful when distinguishing a protected resource from one that may be used commercially or legally through an agreement.
adjectiveCapable of being licensed; eligible to receive official permission, authorization, or a grant of rights. It is most often used of intellectual property, media, technology, or other material whose use is regulated by law or agreement.
- Able or eligible to be licensed, especially under intellectual-property, commercial, or regulatory terms.
"The technology was licensable to manufacturers without requiring a separate patent for every application."
"The company developed a licensable version of its software for the education market."
"Only licensable recordings may be included in the commercial distribution."
Licensable means the world’s legal permission slips: a product or idea can be used under agreed terms rather than remaining off-limits.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does licensable come from?
Licensable is formed within English by combining the verb or noun license with the suffix -able, meaning capable of being affected or treated in a particular way. The noun license derives through Old French licence from Latin licentia, meaning permission or authority. The derived adjective therefore literally means capable of being licensed or capable of being granted permission. Related forms include licensee, the person or organization receiving a license, and licensor, the person or organization granting one.
Related word forms
How licensable is actually used
The spelling licensable is standard in American English and is also used in British English, although licence is the usual British noun spelling. It is a technical or formal term most common in discussions of intellectual property, software, media, and regulated technology.
Easily confused with licensable
Licensable describes something that can be licensed, while a license is the permission or authorization itself or the document granting it.