initiative

American  

[ih-nish-uh-tiv, ih-nish-ee-uh-] / ɪˈnɪʃ ə tɪv, ɪˈnɪʃ i ə- /

noun

• initiatives
  plural

1. an introductory act or step; leading action.

   to take the initiative in making friends.

2. readiness and ability in initiating action; enterprise.

   to lack initiative.

   Synonyms:

   dynamism, forcefulness, leadership

3. one's personal, responsible decision.

   to act on one's own initiative.

4. Government.

   1. a procedure by which a specified number of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and compel a popular vote on its adoption.

   2. the general right or ability to present a new bill or measure, as in a legislature.

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adjective

1. of or relating to formal admission or acceptance into a club or other group; signifying an initiation.

   The secret society's initiative events are best left undescribed.

2. serving to set in motion or initiate; introductory; beginning.

   Initiative steps were taken to stop manufacture of the drug.

initiative British  

/ -ˈnɪʃətɪv, ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪv /

noun

1. the first step or action of a matter; commencing move

   he took the initiative

   a peace initiative

2. the right or power to begin or initiate something

   he has the initiative

3. the ability or attitude required to begin or initiate something

4. government

   1. the right or power to introduce legislation, etc, in a legislative body

   2. the procedure by which citizens originate legislation, as in many American states and Switzerland

5. without being prompted

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adjective

1. of or concerning initiation or serving to initiate; initiatory

initiative Idioms  

1. see on one's own account (initiative); take the initiative.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-initiative
  noun
• superinitiative
  noun
• uninitiative
  adjective
• initiatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• initiatives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of initiative

First recorded in 1785–95; initiate + -ive

Explanation

Initiative is all about taking charge. An initiative is the first in a series of actions. Initiative can also mean a personal quality that shows a willingness to get things done and take responsibility. An initiative is the start of something, with the hope that it will continue. Government and business start initiatives all the time. You can also talk about initiative as a personal quality. A person with initiative is motivated to do things. If you take the initiative, you're willing to get things done on your own. Taking initiative can be risky: If you do something on your own initiative, then there's nobody you can blame if it goes wrong.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

initiative initiatives

Speaking of the initiative to send packages to children facing difficulties, Peter said they did it every year.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The initiative would let them spread the payment over five years, though at a hefty interest charge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The environmental initiative was shelved in 2013 by president Rafael Correa, who authorized crude extraction in the Yasuni National Park after acknowledging the plan's economic failure.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

An estimated 330,000 people are expected to apply to the Justice Department during the first year of the initiative.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Annabeth didn’t feel particularly witty or courageous, but her instincts told her to take the initiative, or this would be a very short conversation.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

One of Carney's first major initiatives as prime minister was federal legislation to reduce interprovincial trade barriers.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Law changes and initiatives such as this are met with scepticism.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Charter promised to invest $30 million in education and awareness initiatives in California, including community outreach and digital literacy training.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Like her husband Will Alpine, another co-author, Holly Alpine used to work at Microsoft, where they were both involved in sustainability initiatives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Pyongyang was particularly enraged by South Korean and American initiatives that made it easier for North Korean defectors who had crossed into China to travel even farther, and settle in the West.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

Related Words

• action
• drive
• leadership
• push