/ ɪˈnɪʃətɪv; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular purpose :
a United Nations peace initiative
a government initiative to combat unemployment
2.
[ U ] the ability to decide and act on your own without waiting for sb to tell you what to do :
You won't get much help. You'll have to use your initiative .
She did it on her own initiative (= without anyone telling her to do it) .
3.
the initiative [ sing. ] the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage before other people do :
to seize / lose the initiative
It was up to the US to take the initiative in repairing relations.
4.
[ C ] ( NAmE , law ) (in some states of the US) a process by which ordinary people can suggest a new law by signing a petition
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: from French , from Latin initiare , from initium beginning.