Definition of INITIATIVE

initiative

Meanings

Plural: initiatives

Noun

  • readiness to embark on bold new ventures
  • the first of a series of actions
  • A beginning; a first move.
  • A new development; a fresh approach to something; a new way of dealing with a problem.
  • The ability to act first or on one's own.
  • An issue to be voted on, brought to the ballot by a sufficient number of signatures from among the voting public.

Adjective Satellite

  • serving to set in motion
    • "the initiative phase in the negotiations"

Adj

  • Serving to initiate.
  • In which voter initiatives can be brought to the ballot.

Origin / 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

enterprise, enterprisingness, first, first step, go-ahead, inaugural, inceptive, initiatory, introductory, maiden, opening, opening move, preliminary

Antonyms

noninitiative

Scrabble Score: 13

initiative is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
initiative is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
initiative is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

initiative is a valid Words With Friends word