initiative

American  

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

noun

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

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

Etymology

Origin of initiative

First recorded in 1785–95; initiate + -ive

Example Sentences

The initiative aims to help tropical forest countries protect existing forests and restore those that have been damaged.

From Science Daily

Other parts of the healthcare plan include transparency initiatives, such as making providers and insurers prominently post their prices, along with a call for Congress to fund what’s known as cost-sharing reduction payments.

From MarketWatch

Other parts of the healthcare plan include transparency initiatives, such as making providers and insurers prominently post their prices, along with a call for Congress to fund what’s known as cost-sharing reduction payments.

From MarketWatch

The analysts also suggest that CIOs may be reallocating resources away from hardware and communications and toward software, adding that it’s possible that AI initiatives are being funded from resources outside of IT departments.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The proposed staff reduction is part of global initiatives to improve cost position while maintaining investments critical to Ericsson's technology leadership," the company said, adding that "approximately 1,600 positions" could be impacted.

From Barron's

Related Words

• action
• drive
• leadership
• push