was licensed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was licensed by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a person or organization has received official permission or authorization from another entity to do something, typically related to intellectual property or regulated activities. Example: "The software was licensed by the company to ensure compliance with copyright laws."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The school was licensed by the state to test commercial drivers.

The New York Times

It was licensed by Eyetech from Gilead Sciences, which will receive royalties from Macugen sales.

The New York Times

Roederer notes that the fluorescent tag was licensed by reagent manufacturers.

Stanford University

All payment was denied even though the acupuncturist was licensed by the State Department of Education.

The New York Times

Finney dropped his law practice to become an evangelist and was licensed by the Presbyterians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Muhaydin Mire was a private hire driver who was licensed by TfL.

Independent

In 1952 Texas Instruments was licensed by the American Telephone & Telegraph Company to make transistors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Recently, a new live attenuated marker vaccine, Suvaxyn® CSF Marker (Zoetis), was licensed by the European Medicines Agency EMAA).

Veterinary Microbiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Of note was that in Mullican's 20 months since his AIDS diagnosis, only one experimental drug--AZT--was licensed by the FDA for use.

Los Angeles Times

Oanda said that its currency-converter technology was licensed by 13,000 clients, many of whom use it on their own Web sites.

The New York Times

Sly, Slick and Wicked also claim they didn't see any money when "Suit & Tie" was licensed by Universal for a Bud Light commercial.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was licensed by" to emphasize the legitimacy and compliance aspects of an entity's operations, especially in legal or regulatory contexts.

Common error

Ensure you specify who granted the license. Saying "the product was licensed" lacks crucial information. Instead, state "the product was licensed by the FDA" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was licensed by" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that an entity or product received authorization or permission from a governing body or organization. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was licensed by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression signifying that an entity or product has received official permission or authorization from a recognized authority. Ludwig confirms its accuracy and widespread use across diverse domains such as news, science, and encyclopedias. Employing this phrase effectively involves specifying both the licensed entity and the licensing authority for optimal clarity and impact. Common alternatives include "was authorized by" or "was certified by", offering nuanced options for conveying legitimacy and compliance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was authorized by

Indicates official permission or approval was granted, similar to being licensed.

received a license from

Directly states that a license was obtained from a specific entity.

was certified by

Suggests a formal certification process was completed and approved.

was permitted by

Implies allowance or permission was given, closely related to licensing.

was given permission by

Emphasizes that permission was granted by someone, closely related to licensing.

was approved by

Highlights that a formal approval process occurred, granting permission.

had the authorization of

Focuses on having the explicit permission or approval from a particular source.

was accredited by

Indicates that an organization or program met specific standards and received accreditation.

was endorsed by

Suggests formal support or approval, often from a recognized authority.

was sanctioned by

Implies official authorization, often in the context of regulations or rules.

FAQs

How do I use "was licensed by" in a sentence?

Use "was licensed by" to indicate that an entity received official permission or authorization from a specific authority. For example: "The school "was licensed by" the state to test commercial drivers."

What can I say instead of "was licensed by"?

Alternatives include "was authorized by", "was permitted by", or "was certified by", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "was licensed by" and "was certified by"?

"Was licensed by" generally refers to obtaining permission to perform a specific activity or operate a business, while "was certified by" indicates that something meets certain standards or qualifications. Licensing often involves legal or regulatory compliance, whereas certification focuses on quality or competence.

Is it correct to say "became licensed by"?

Yes, "became licensed by" is grammatically correct and indicates the process of obtaining a license. For example: "Finney dropped his law practice to become an evangelist and "became licensed by" the Presbyterians."