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

If that were the case, why would the BLS produce an initial estimate that employers hired just 114,000 new workers in July, the second-lowest monthly gain since December 2020? —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

Now, initial ratings tend to be dismal, which shouldn’t come as a shock: Audiences long ago changed their TV habits, and that first night total viewer number is just the start of a long tail. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

Then there’s Monsieur R., who, because of his initials and friendship with Caillebotte has historically been suspected to be businessman Antoine Patrice Reyre, who is believed to have met the artist either at the 1876 Impressionist exhibition or socially at the Hôtel Drouot. —Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 31 Oct. 2024

George Washington carved his initials into the arch in 1750. —Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024

Verb

According to the report, Terry read and initialed the waiver of rights form but was unwilling to submit to the test. —River Valley Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 16 Sep. 2024

Billingsley read aloud, and then initialed next to, sentences explaining his right to remain silent and his right to have an attorney present, among others. —Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 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

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