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

Health minister Baroness Merron said the initiative was part of "wider efforts to put patient safety at the heart of the NHS."

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Roughly one in eight Israeli election-related social-media posts published in recent months were created or altered with AI, according to Ze Be AI, a research initiative by the Open University of Israel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

Actually, every two weeks, thanks to a recently approved initiative: “You guys get paid every two weeks by your employer,” he reasoned, “so why shouldn’t your assets pay you every two weeks?”

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

If objectivity is the initiative, then both viewpoints must have their advantages and follies fully rendered.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

Before too long folk were taking initiative to sing out their own verses when the chorus was over.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

This would include proposals on the role of the president, as well as "practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives".

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Several European countries have announced major initiatives recently.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 20, 2026

The group, which represents major U.S. carriers, called it “one of the most exciting and bold initiatives taken on by the FAA in decades.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Of the $1 billion in funds, 40% will be for education, 40% will support healthcare initiatives, 10% will support agriculture initiatives, and 10% will support digital initiatives such as expanding language data for AI tools.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

PIH works closely with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and through their collaborative initiatives, a new generation of doctors and health specialists have chosen careers centered on infectious diseases.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• action
• drive
• leadership
• push