What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Activity vs Initiative - What's the difference?

activity | initiative |

As nouns the difference between activity and initiative

is that activity is the state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility; vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; as, an increasing variety of human activities while initiative is a beginning; a first move.

As an adjective initiative is

serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary.

activity

Noun

(activities)
  • The state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility; vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; as, an increasing variety of human activities.
  • Something done as an action or a movement.
  • Something done for pleasure or entertainment, especially one involving movement or an excursion.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=David Simpson
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=36, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Fantasy of navigation , passage=Like most human activities , ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or parachute down to earth.}}
  • Use (of internet, playstation, bank account etc.).
  • Usage notes

    * Adjectives often used with "activity": increased, decreased, high, low, volcanic, seismic, eruptive, intellectual, physical, mental, spiritual, muscular, cerebral, favorite, recreational, practical, cultural, artistic, literary, musical, political, diplomatic, military, domestic, voluntary, missionary, chemical, optical, productive, reproductive, industrial, commercial, etc.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * rest * passivity

    Derived terms

    * radioactivity

    initiative

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A beginning; a first move.
  • A new development; a fresh approach to something; a new way of dealing with a problem.
  • The ability to act first or on one's own.
  • An issue to be voted on, brought to the ballot by a sufficient number of signatures from among the voting public.
  • Synonyms

    * (issue to be voted on) direct initiative

    Derived terms

    * direct initiative

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary.
  • In which voter s can be brought to the ballot.
  • * John G. Matsusaka, "Direct Democracy and the Executive Branch", in, 2008, Shaun Bowler and Amihai Glazer, editors, Direct Democracy's Impact on American Political Institutions , , ISBN 9780230604452, page 122 [http://books.google.com/books?id=J6swcucKdNIC&pg=PA122&dq=initiative]:
  • The second row shows that initiative states fill more constitutional offices by election than noninitiative states, and the difference is statistically significant after controlling for region and population.

    Antonyms

    * noninitiative