radical
RADIH-kuhl
Radical (adjective) means favoring extreme, fundamental change, especially in politics or society. Example: “The party's radical wing pushed for a complete overhaul of the tax system.”
adjective
1
Favoring extreme, fundamental change, especially in politics or society.
"The party's radical wing pushed for a complete overhaul of the tax system."
"The group made radical demands for a complete change in how the city is run."
"Many voters found his radical ideas too extreme."
2
Thorough and far-reaching; affecting the most basic or essential part of something.
"The company underwent a radical restructuring after the merger."
"Doctors recommended a radical change in his diet."
"The architect proposed a radical redesign of the old library."
noun
1
A person who holds extreme or fundamentally reforming political views.
"He was branded a radical for questioning the party leadership."
"The newspaper described the speaker as a radical who wanted to overturn everything."
"In his youth, he was a radical who joined every march."
2
In chemistry, a group of atoms that behaves as a single unit in reactions (often short for "free radical").
"Free radicals in the body are linked to cellular aging."
"A methyl radical is a tiny fragment of a molecule."
"Antioxidants help neutralise radicals before they damage cells."
How to use radical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtreme or fundamental — getting to the root of something, whether in politics, change, or chemistry.
Common pairings
radical change
radical politics
free radical
radical idea
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Word forms
- Plural
- radicals
- Comparative
- more radical
- Superlative
- most radical
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The party's _____ wing pushed for a complete overhaul of the tax system.
Etymology
From Latin radicalis, "of or having roots", from radix, "root" — the political and thorough-change senses developed from the idea of getting to the root of a problem.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for radical
See all rhymes for radical →Frequently asked questions
What does “radical” mean?
The word “radical” means favoring extreme, fundamental change, especially in politics or society. In plain terms, extreme or fundamental — getting to the root of something, whether in politics, change, or chemistry.
How do you pronounce “radical”?
“Radical” is pronounced RADIH-kuhl (/ˈɹædɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “radical” in a sentence?
Here is “radical” used in a sentence: “The party's radical wing pushed for a complete overhaul of the tax system.”
What is another word for “radical”?
Words with a similar meaning to “radical” include Jacobin, Jacobinic and Jacobinical.
What is the opposite of “radical”?
The opposite of “radical” — its antonyms — are derivative and derived.
What part of speech is “radical”?
Depending on how it is used, “radical” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “radical” come from?
The word “radical” comes from Latin. From Latin radicalis, "of or having roots", from radix, "root" — the political and thorough-change senses developed from the idea of getting to the root of a problem.
Is “radical” a common word?
“Radical” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "radical" and "extreme"?
"Radical" favours fundamental, far-reaching change, especially in politics or society, and focuses on getting to the root of an issue. "Extreme" simply means very far from moderate or ordinary. Radical change is deep and thorough, while extreme describes intensity or degree.
What is the difference between "radical" and "revolutionary"?
Both involve major change, but "radical" describes favouring extreme, fundamental change or affecting the most basic part of something. "Revolutionary" specifically implies a complete overthrow or replacement of an existing system. Radical ideas may be adopted gradually, while revolutionary ones break sharply with the past.
What is the difference between the two meanings of "radical"?
In politics or society, "radical" means favouring extreme, fundamental change. More broadly, it means thorough and far-reaching, affecting the most basic or essential part of something, as in "a radical redesign." Both senses share the idea of reaching the root.
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