English Explanatory Dictionary

initiative

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Serving to initiate.
  2. In which voter initiatives can be brought to the ballot.
noun
  1. A beginning; a first move.
  2. A new development; a fresh approach to something; a new way of dealing with a problem.
  3. The ability to act first or on one's own.
  4. An issue to be voted on, brought to the ballot by a sufficient number of signatures from among the voting public.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv/ en-us-initiative.ogg

Word forms

initiative initiatives

Etymology

From French initiative, from Medieval Latin *initiativus (“serving to initiate”), from Late Latin initiare (“to begin, to initiate”), from Latin initium (“beginning”), from ineo (“enter, begin”). By surface analysis, initiate + -ive.

Synonyms

inceptive initiatory introductory preliminary

Antonyms

noninitiative

Related words

initial initialism initialization initialize initiate initiation

Derived words

counterinitiative direct initiative initiatively mixed initiative popular initiative seize the initiative take the initiative
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