license plate

noun

: a plate or tag (as of metal) attesting that a license has been secured and usually bearing a registration number

Examples of license plate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Flock's technology, which photographs every passing license plate and uses AI to extract data, has been installed across thousands of American cities and towns. Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 An officer with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department who misused the county’s license plate reader system has been demoted, suspended without pay and faced other disciplinary measures, according to a release from Sheriff Jeffery Balon. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 One probation officer also gave ICE agents the home address and make, model and license plate of a probationer’s car. Rachel Spacek, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 In Texas, officer Zachary Klein of the Lufkin Police Department used Flock to repeatedly search seven license plates, USA TODAY’s analysis found, including one more than 3,400 times over 10 months. Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for license plate

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of license plate was circa 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“License plate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/license%20plate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

license plate

noun
: a plate or tag (as of metal) showing that a license has been gotten and usually bearing a registration number
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