rad

1 of 3

noun

ˈrad 

: a unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation equal to an energy of 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material

rad

2 of 3

adjective

slang

: cool sense 7, radical

rad

3 of 3

abbreviation

1

radian

2

radius

3

radix

Examples of rad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Learn about all the extra rad benefits and become a member yourself at Outside Online Dot Com Slash Pod Plus. —Outside Online, 17 Dec. 2025

Barbie herself!) grabbed a cup of coffee from her rad double, Emma Eastwood. —Julia Emmanuele, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025

Plus, the Terminator taking visible damage throughout missions was a rad thing to see back in the day. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 8 Dec. 2025

This is an experience for people who think chasing demon sharks on surfboards is rad, and whose not-so-guilty pleasures include using a bad guy’s head like a soccer ball while EDM blasts in the background. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

radiation absorbed dose

First Known Use

Noun

1918, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1978, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rad

• ad
• add
• bad
• brad
• cad
• clad
• dad
• fad
• gad
• glad
• grad
• had

Medical Definition

rad

1 of 2 noun

ˈrad 

: a unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation equal to an energy of 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material

rad

2 of 2 abbreviation

root

—used in writing prescriptions

Etymology

Abbreviation

Latin radix