initiative

1 of 2

noun

ini·​tia·​tive i-ˈni-shə-tiv How to pronounce initiative (audio)
 also  -shē-ə-tiv
1
: an introductory step
took the initiative in attempting to settle the issue
2
: energy or aptitude displayed in initiation of action : enterprise
showed great initiative
3
a
: the right to initiate legislative action
b
: a procedure enabling a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and secure its submission to the electorate or to the legislature for approval compare referendum sense 1

initiative

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to initiation : introductory, preliminary
Phrases
on one's own initiative
: at one's own discretion : independently of outside influence or control

Example Sentences

Noun … on the day before their Club Med flight she took the initiative of telephoning Franco from work, ostensibly to tell him that she had really admired his new place … John Barth, Atlantic, March 1995
Following initiatives begun before the First World War, thirty-four states instituted or expanded workers' compensation laws in the 1920s. Mary Beth Norton et al., A People and a Nation, 1988
Since the social victim has been oppressed by society, he comes to feel that his individual life will be improved more by changes in society than by his own initiative. Shelby Steele, Harper's, June 1988
If you want to meet her, you're going to have to take the initiative and introduce yourself. The company has the opportunity to seize the initiative by getting its new products to the market before its competitors. The governor has proposed a new initiative to improve conditions in urban schools. Adjective Luther's daring initiative thoughts did indeed come from above, but he owed them to no man or age. Junius B. Remensnyder, What the World Owes Luther, 1917
Many writers maintain that there is a rule of International Law forbidding the commencement of war without a declaration of war. But such rule, in fact, does not exist, for a great many wars take place without an initiative declaration of war. Lassa Oppenheim, International Law, 1906
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Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Lee has been a supporter of the California initiative and spoke at the task force's most recent meeting earlier this month. Jack Birle, Washington Examiner, 17 May 2023 Mutter said the new community center will provide education and workforce training, help the town’s EMS and paramedics teams, and connect community partners with daily initiatives. Carlos R. Muñoz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 Proposition 203, also known as Arizona's English-only immersion law, was bankrolled by Ron Unz, a Silicon Valley software engineer, who also bankrolled similar English-only immersion ballot initiatives that passed in California and Massachusetts. Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 15 May 2023 Bogdan-Martin organized the Equals Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age and initiated a collaboration with UNICEF on the Giga initiative to connect schools to the Internet. IEEE Spectrum, 15 May 2023 Josh Rudolph, head of malign finance at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, an initiative to deter efforts to undermine democracy, asserted that Twitter's move to restrict some users of its platform in Turkey was politically motivated. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 15 May 2023 Noormohamed said artists coming together in this initiative have the opportunity to connect with their communities and create what essentially becomes a gathering space so people can organically learn together, demand together, grieve together and act together. Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2023 However, the focus shifted during the Obama and Trump administrations, giving space to special interests to push dangerous new projects anchored on autocrats like Prime Minister Rama and Serbian President Aleksander Vucic, such as the Open Balkans initiative. Chris Massaro, Fox News, 13 May 2023 Newsom also maintained ongoing major initiatives; notably, the gradual expansion of public education to all 4-year-olds. Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023
Adjective
The initiative also spurred groups on both sides of the debate, including the anti-initiative National Restaurant Association, to open their pockets. Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2022 Cuomo correctly assessed that as the nation reckoned with active anti-initiative from the federal government, competence itself could become its own kind of sell. Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2021 Paizo undertook relatively significant changes to the skill system, how initiative order is determined, and the iconic critical success and critical failure criteria. Sam Ferguson, Ars Technica, 30 July 2019 The girl of now initiative highlights women’s success stories in various fields. Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, 23 May 2018 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'initiative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see initiate entry 1

Adjective

see initiate entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of initiative was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near initiative

Cite this Entry

“Initiative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initiative. Accessed 29 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

initiative

noun
ini·​tia·​tive
in-ˈish-ət-iv
1
: a first step or movement
take the initiative in becoming acquainted
2
: energy shown in initiating something
has ability but lacks initiative
3
: a plan or program intended to solve a problem

Legal Definition

initiative

noun
ini·​tia·​tive i-ˈni-shə-tiv, -shē-ə-tiv How to pronounce initiative (audio)
1
: the especially introductory series of steps taken to cause a desired result
the deposing party would ordinarily be required to take the initiative in arranging a depositionAndrews v. Bradshaw, 895 P.2d 973 (1995)
2
a
: the right to initiate legislative action
b
: a procedure enabling a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and secure its submission to the electorate or to the legislature for approval see also referendum

More from Merriam-Webster on initiative

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