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  

/ ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪv, -ˈnɪʃətɪv /

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

Another initiative aims to distribute one million tzedaka boxes, containers used to collect charity money, in memory of another alumnus who made daily giving part of his life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

The initiative was a “very big, scary deal” that drew a “massive amount of blowback,” but UPS returned to revenue, profit and operating margin growth in the second quarter, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Up to this point, the main opponent of the initiative has been the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Assn., a non-profit that advocates for lower taxes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

The initiative comes after the launch of the government's National Year of Reading 2026, with reading enjoyment rising this year after four years in decline, according to an annual survey from the National Literary Trust.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Jefferson had reliable evidence that Talleyrand had threatened to leak news of his previous peace initiative, thereby requiring Adams to reciprocate.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Stand-up initiatives catered to helping people with mental health challenges include Comedy for Coping, taught by comic Dave Chawner; and Stand Up for Mental Health, led by counselor and comic David Granirer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

"The government supports initiatives that benefit citizens, particularly those that safeguard the country’s security and energy infrastructure."

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

Cybersecurity demand remains a structural growth driver, the analyst says. 2H earnings should also be supported by the recognition of delayed sales in its internet security business and ongoing margin improvement initiatives, she says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

The decrees, which introduced a series of initiatives aimed at protecting tenants in the rental market, required parliamentary approval in order to remain in place.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

“We had to think,” he later wrote, “about initiatives that we could undertake to show the enemy that we were still serious about our commitments in Vietnam.”

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• action
• drive
• leadership
• push