# initials

/ˌɪˈnɪʃəɫz/ (US) · /ɪnˈɪʃəlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/initials
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. first letters of a name

noun · CEFR B1

the first letters of your names, usually your first name and your family name.

For teachers: the first letters of a person's given and family names, often used as a shorthand signature.

- He has his initials, J.S., sewn onto the pocket of his shirt.
- The silver briefcase was engraved with the owner's initials in an elegant, italicised script that made it easy to identify at the airport.

### 2. to sign with first letters

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to write your initials on a document to show that you agree with it.

For teachers: to mark or sign a document with one's initials, typically to indicate approval or to acknowledge a specific clause.

- Please initial each page of the contract before you sign the last one.
- The lawyer requested that both parties initial the handwritten amendments in the margin to ensure the changes were legally binding.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- He carved his initials into the wooden desk.
- Please write your full name on the first page and your initials on every other page of the contract.
- The artist chose to sign the corner of the canvas with his initials rather than his full surname to maintain the painting's minimalist aesthetic.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.