initial

1 of 3

adjective

ini·​tial i-ˈni-shəl 

1

: of or relating to the beginning : incipient

his initial reaction

2

: placed at the beginning : first

the initial word of the verse

initialness

i-ˈni-shəl-nəs 

noun

initial

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the first letter of a name

b

initials plural : the first letter of each word in a full name

found that their initials were identical

2

: a large letter beginning a text or a division or paragraph

3

: anlage, precursor

specifically : a meristematic cell

initial

3 of 3

verb

initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling i-ˈni-sh(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to affix an initial to

2

: to authenticate or give preliminary approval to by affixing the initials of an authorizing representative

Synonyms

Adjective

• earliest
• first
• foremost
• headmost
• inaugural
• leadoff
• maiden
• original
• pioneer
• premier
• virgin

Examples of initial in a Sentence

Adjective

you've resolved my initial complaint, but now I have a new question

Noun

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.”

She put her initials on each page of the contract.

The initials F.D.R. stood for “Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

Verb

She initialed each page of the contract.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Finding the house was an enormous challenge for McBride and locations manager Kale Murphy; initial candidates weren’t distinct enough from the Gemstones’ other residences, and the search took so long McBride nearly called HBO to request a pause in production. —Alison Herman, Variety, 5 May 2025

Despite some initial hiccups, the fan had an unforgettable night. —Billboard Brasil, Billboard, 5 May 2025

Noun

The hotel will also embroider initials on all VIP’s hotel robes, and gift their signature baseball hats — which are not for sale — to guests. —Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 1 May 2025

Andy Murray’s logo features his initials and the No. 77, signifying his 2013 Wimbledon win, the first by a British player in 77 years. —Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Verb

One ballot was tossed out because it wasn’t initialed by an election judge, and Balich won the position via a lottery. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025

The serial numbers on those seals are written on a form that is then initialed by the chief inspector and a member of the Board of Absentee Canvassers. —Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French iniciel, from Latin initialis, from initium beginning, from inire to go into, from in- + ire to go — more at issue entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing initial

• initial coin offering
• initial public offering
• initial rhyme
• initial side

Rhymes for initial

• judicial
• official
• simplicial
• surficial
• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial

Kids Definition

initial

1 of 3 adjective

ini·​tial in-ˈish-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or existing at the beginning : earliest

initial stages of a disease

2

: placed or standing at the beginning : first

the initial letter of a word

initially

-ˈish-(ə-)lē 

adverb

initial

2 of 3 noun

1

: a first letter of a name

2

: a large letter beginning a text or paragraph

initial

3 of 3 verb

initialed or initialled; initialing or initialling -ˈish-(ə-)liŋ 

: to mark with initials or an initial

initial a handkerchief