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

The initial prognosis appears to indicate that Mbappé will be out for around three weeks. —Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

Having answered the initial call after the reported stabbing 10 days earlier, the Palm Springs Police Department could not be reached for direct comment. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Sep. 2024

Noun

The double-handle $35 bag features her initials, KH, on the front. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 23 Sep. 2024

Despite its early stock market gains, Trump Media — which trades under the ticker DJT, the same letters as Trump's initials — has had a largely bumpy reception from Wall Street. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 20 Sep. 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