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Dictionary


in•i•ti•a•tive



Pronunciation: (i-nish'ē-u-tiv, i-nish'u-), [key]
—n.
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. Govt.
a. a procedure by which a specified number of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and compel a popular vote on its adoption. Cf. referendum (def. 1).
b. the general right or ability to present a new bill or measure, as in a legislature.

—adj.
of or pertaining to initiation; serving to initiate: Initi-ative steps were taken to stop manufacture of the drug.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

initiationinitiatory
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