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

"I love people who take initiative, find their passion are curious and keep pushing to find an answer," Macauley said.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

The signature-matching initiative was under discussion as recently as late June, but its current status is uncertain.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026

Composed by Kevin Day, the Cincinnati Opera’s Afrofuturist world premiere is a promising opening to its commissioning initiative.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

The details of the initiative were not immediately clear.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

“In short, if fighting breaks out, everyone must act on CO . his own initiative in order to complete the operation.”

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

Loans couldn’t enter default during this time, and federal programs designed to help delinquent borrowers and debt forgiveness initiatives brought millions out of default.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

"All the initiatives we were proposing started to be blocked, and Syrsky... is not ready to look you in the eye and openly talk about those problems," he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026

She said the new initiatives she was set to announce would allow both sides to "produce more, and faster".

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

JPMorgan plans to back other shipyard-related initiatives as part of an effort targeting $1.5 trillion for national and economic security.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

In 1929, an agent resigned with the complaint that Hoover’s initiatives were “directed against the personnel rather than against the criminal.”

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• action
• drive
• leadership
• push