initiative

i-NISH-uh-tiv/ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/

Pluralinitiatives (some meanings)

6 meanings of initiative

1
noununcountable
The power to act and make decisions on your own, without being told to.
Like starting a game yourself instead of waiting for someone to tell you to begin.
She showed great initiative by fixing the problem before anyone asked.
Good workers use their own initiative when the boss is away.
Similarenterprise, drive, resourcefulness, lead
Oppositepassivity
2
nouncountable
A new plan or fresh way of dealing with a problem.
Like trying a brand-new way to fix something that never worked before.
The city launched a new initiative to plant more trees downtown.
Their recycling initiative cut household waste in half within a year.
Similarplan, scheme, program, project, measure
3
nounusually singular
The first step or move that starts something.
Like being the first person in the room to say hello.
Peace talks began at the initiative of the smaller nation.
She took the initiative and introduced herself first.
Similarlead
4
nouncountable
A question that people can put on the ballot to vote on, after enough voters sign for it.
Like a class voting on a new rule after enough students ask for the vote.
Voters approved the initiative to raise the minimum wage.
Enough people signed the petition to put the initiative on the ballot.
Similarmeasure, proposition
Note
5
adjectiveUS
Describing a state where voters can put proposed laws on the ballot themselves.
Like a club where members can suggest new rules directly, not just the leaders.
California is an initiative state, so citizens can write their own ballot measures.
In initiative states, voters don't have to wait for lawmakers to act.
Note

Less common meaning

6
adjectivearchaic
Used to begin or set something in motion.
suspected! that indefinite word, which was tortured into every meaning of injustice and oppression, and became what the French call the mot de ralliement, the initiative term of captivity and death
1795, Helen Maria Williams, Letters Containing a Sketch of the Politics of FranceHere, initiative means serving to begin something, so the word that started captivity and death.
Similarintroductory, preliminary, initiatory, inceptive
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of initiative apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from French initiative, which goes back to Latin initium meaning 'beginning'.