Definition of “initial” by Spec Services: The term "initial" refers to something that occurs at the beginning or first stage of a process, event, or sequence. It can also refer to the first letter of a person’s name or a word. In various contexts, "initial" is used to describe the starting point or the earliest phase of an action, condition, or state.
For example:
In cleaning, "initial cleaning" might refer to the first thorough cleaning of a space before regular maintenance cleanings.
In a name, "initials" are the first letters of a person’s first, middle, and last names.