Initiative Peace ɪˈnɪʃətɪv Local United Policy Government Extra

• a united nations peace initiative
• most policy initiatives come from the white house.
• to launch an initiative
• the money was intended to support initiatives in bilingual education.

initiative

1. a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular purpose
• a United Nations peace initiative
• Most policy initiatives come from the White House.
• to launch an initiative
• The money was intended to support initiatives in bilingual education.
• new initiatives to improve animal welfare
• a government initiative to combat unemployment
• a joint initiative by the Scottish and UK governments
• an initiative for peace and human rights

Extra Examples

• Ten schools have been involved in the initiative.
• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger.
• The government has launched a new policy initiative.
• The initiative foundered because there was no market interest in redevelopment.
• The peace initiative was rejected out of hand.
• The research initiative is being undertaken by a group of environmentalists.
• We welcome the government's initiative to help the homeless.
• a local initiative aimed at economic regeneration
• a new initiative against car theft
• a peace initiative sponsored by the Organization of African Unity
• an initiative designed to promote collaborative research
• fresh initiatives to find a peaceful end to the conflict
• The initiative to reopen negotiations came from Moscow.
• pioneering initiatives in bioengineering
• the government's major new initiative on crime
• the latest initiative by the UN Secretary General
• A number of initiatives have been planned to tackle street crime.
• Government leaders are meeting to discuss the latest peace initiative.
• They proposed a joint initiative between the local authority and faith groups.
2. the ability to decide and act on your own without waiting for somebody to tell you what to do
• He said I was lazy and had no initiative.
• You won't get much help. You'll have to use your initiative.
• She needs to show more initiative if she wants to succeed.
• Too much bureaucracy represses creativity and initiative.
• She did it on her own initiative (= without anyone telling her to do it).

Extra Examples

• Don't ask me what you should do all the time. Use your initiative!
• He acted on his own initiative and wasn't following orders.
• He had the initiative to ask what time the last train left.
• It's a very hierarchical company and there's little place for individual initiative.
• Raising taxes on small businesses will stifle initiative.
• In an unprecedented action, the army, on its own initiative, arrested seven civilians.
• Some scientists show little initiative in applying their knowledge.
• The project was set up on the initiative of a local landowner.
3. the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage before other people do
• to seize/regain the initiative
• It was up to the US to take the initiative in repairing relations.

Extra Examples

• In the second half, Manchester United regained the initiative.
• She then regained the initiative in winning the third game.
• She took the initiative in asking the board to conduct an enquiry.
4. (in some states of the US) a process by which ordinary people can suggest a new law by signing a petition
• a ballot initiative to establish a local minimum wage
• The rights of referendum and initiative foster active participation by citizens.

Word Origin

• late 18th cent.: from French, from Latin initiare, from initium ‘beginning’.