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.