Definition

Noun: A flat, typically rectangular piece of metal or other rigid material, officially issued and mounted on the front and rear of a motor vehicle, which displays a unique sequence of characters (the vehicle's registration number or license number) for identification purposes.

Usage

The word "numberplate" is used to refer to the physical object displaying a vehicle's official registration identifier. It is a compound noun. * You must ensure your car's numberplate is clean and legible. * The witness remembered the numberplate of the suspect's vehicle. * The new regulations require a standard font for all numberplates.

Examples

• The police officer checked the vehicle's numberplate against the database.
• I need to replace my damaged numberplate.
• The car's numberplate was obscured by dirt, making it difficult to read.
• Different countries have different styles and colors for their numberplates.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a private numberplate": To possess a registration number that is not randomly issued but is a personalized sequence of letters and numbers, often for a premium fee.
  • He bought a private numberplate that spells his initials.

Variants and Related Words

• License plate (noun): The most common synonym for "numberplate," used primarily in American English but widely understood.
• Registration plate (noun): A more formal term synonymous with "numberplate," emphasizing its official registration function.
• Plates (noun, informal): A common shortened form used in context (e.g., "I got new plates for my car").

Synonyms

• License plate
• Registration plate
• Tag (informal, chiefly US)

Related Phrases

• "To run a plate": (Police/Jargon) To check a vehicle's registration number in an official database.
  • The officer radioed in to run the numberplate.
• "Cloned numberplate": A counterfeit plate made to display the same registration number as another, legally registered vehicle, often used for criminal activity.
  • The car was found to have cloned numberplates.

Noun

1. a plate mounted on the front and back of car and bearing the car's registration number