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Initiative - 8 dictionary results
in⋅i⋅ti⋅a⋅tive
[i-nish-ee-uh-tiv, i-nish-uh-] 
i
–noun
| 1. | an introductory act or step; leading action: to take the initiative in making friends. |
| 2. | readiness and ability in initiating action; enterprise: to lack initiative. |
| 3. | one's personal, responsible decision: to act on one's own initiative. |
| 4. | Government.
|
–adjective
| 5. | of or pertaining to initiation; serving to initiate: Initi-ative steps were taken to stop manufacture of the drug. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To Initiative
| in·i·tia·tive (ĭ-nĭsh'ə-tĭv) n.
|
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Initiative
In*i"ti*a*tive\, a. [Cf. F. initiatif.] Serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary.Initiative
In*i"ti*a*tive\, n. [Cf. F. initiative.]1. An introductory step or movement; an act which originates or begins. The undeveloped initiatives of good things to come. --I. Taylor. 2. The right or power to introduce a new measure or course of action, as in legislation; as, the initiative in respect to revenue bills is in the House of Representatives.Initiative
In*i"ti*a*tive\, n. (Political Science) The right or procedure by which legislation may be introduced or enacted directly by the people, as in the Swiss Confederation and in many of the States of the United States; -- chiefly used with the. The procedure of the initiative is essentially as follows: Upon the filing of a petition signed by a required number or percentage of qualified voters the desired measure must be submitted to a popular vote, and upon receiving the required majority (commonly a majority of those voting on the measure submitted) it becomes a law. In some States of the United States the initiative is only local; in others it is state-wide and includes the making of constitutional amendments.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Initiative
Spanish:
iniciativa,
German:
die Initiative,
Japanese:
主導権
initiative
1793, "that which begins," also "power of initiating," from Fr. initiative (1567), from L. initiatus (see initiation). First attested in Eng. in writings of William Godwin. Phrase take the initiative first recorded 1856.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: ini·tia·tive
Pronunciation: i-'ni-sh&-tiv, -shE-&-tiv
Function: noun
1 : the esp. introductory series of steps taken to cause a desired result
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—on one's own initiative : at one's own discretion : independently of outside influence, suggestion, or control
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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initiative
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
