initial

1 of 3

adjective

ini·​tial i-ˈni-shəl 

1

: of or relating to the beginning : incipient

his initial reaction

2

: placed at the beginning : first

the initial word of the verse

initialness

i-ˈni-shəl-nəs 

noun

initial

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the first letter of a name

b

initials plural : the first letter of each word in a full name

found that their initials were identical

2

: a large letter beginning a text or a division or paragraph

3

: anlage, precursor

specifically : a meristematic cell

initial

3 of 3

verb

initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling i-ˈni-sh(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to affix an initial to

2

: to authenticate or give preliminary approval to by affixing the initials of an authorizing representative

Synonyms

Adjective

• first
• original
• inaugural
• earliest
• maiden
• foremost

Examples of initial in a Sentence

Adjective

you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question

Noun

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.”

She put her initials on each page of the contract.

The initials F.D.R. stood for “Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

Verb

She initialed each page of the contract.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

After the initial outcry, Sanders continued jetting himself around the country. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025

Before The Beatles and before football came the docks, once the beating heart of Liverpool and the catalyst for the city’s initial growth and prosperity. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

Noun

The piece has been in her royal rotation since 2021, and the children's initials are represented in their birth order. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

For the brand whose initials DSW stand for Designer Shoe Warehouse, 2025 brings a fresh approach to its brand via a catchy tagline with a call to action that prompts customers to approach the store with a fresh perspective. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Verb

The documents largely amount to a memorandum of understanding, with the two countries’ foreign ministers initialling a peace agreement, and Aliyev and Pashinyan signing a joint declaration to pursue a lasting peace. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2025

The two countries and the United States said on Wednesday that their technical teams initialed a draft peace agreement that is expected to be signed next week. —Reuters, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French iniciel, from Latin initialis, from initium beginning, from inire to go into, from in- + ire to go — more at issue entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing initial

• initial coin offering
• initial public offering
• initial rhyme
• initial side

Rhymes for initial

• judicial
• official
• simplicial
• surficial
• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial

Kids Definition

initial

1 of 3 adjective

ini·​tial in-ˈish-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or existing at the beginning : earliest

initial stages of a disease

2

: placed or standing at the beginning : first

the initial letter of a word

initially

-ˈish-(ə-)lē 

adverb

initial

2 of 3 noun

1

: a first letter of a name

2

: a large letter beginning a text or paragraph

initial

3 of 3 verb

initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling -ˈish-(ə-)liŋ 

: to mark with initials or an initial

initial a handkerchief