rad·i·cal
ˈra-di-kəl 
1
: of, relating to, or proceeding from a root: such as
a(1)
: of or growing from the root of a plant
radical tubers
(2)
: growing from the base of a stem, from a rootlike stem, or from a stem that does not rise above the ground
radical leaves
b
: of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root
c
: of or relating to a mathematical root
d
: designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue
radical surgery
radical mastectomy
2
: of or relating to the origin : fundamental
3
a
: very different from the usual or traditional : extreme
b
: favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions
c
: associated with political views, practices, and policies of extreme change
d
: advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs
the radical right
radicalness
noun
1
a
: a root part
b
: a basic principle : foundation
2
a
b
: a sound or letter belonging to a radical
3
: one who is radical
4
: free radical
also
: a group of atoms bonded together that is considered an entity in various kinds of reactions or as a subunit of a larger molecule
5
a
: a mathematical expression indicating a root by means of a radical sign
b
Synonyms
Examples of radical in a Sentence
Adjective
The computer has introduced radical innovations.
There are some radical differences between the two proposals.
The new president has made some radical changes to the company.
a radical wing of extremists
Noun
He was a radical when he was young, but now he's much more moderate.
radicals staged large, violent protests in the hopes of toppling the government
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Recent Examples on the Web
Kate Brady, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023
Valentina Zannier’s interior is an even more radical departure.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2023
And her life had been threatened: A bomb had been planted at her home, reportedly by members of the New World Liberation Front, one of several underground radical groups operating in the Bay Area.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2023
It was considered to be so radical and so suspicious to want to be physically fit as a regular person.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 28 Sep. 2023
In the ending of the FX comedy-drama, preserving the bonds among generations is a radical, magical act.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023
Finding themselves in a vacuum, without an inclusive peace process or strong international engagement, Karabakh Armenians began to shift from a mere push for self-determination to more radical irredentism.
—Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2023
Victory for them in Strasbourg would be a powerful instance of young people taking a legal route to force their governments to adopt a radical recalibration of their climate measures.
—Barry Hatton and Helena Alves, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2023
The performance uses text, sound, film and dance to explore Mental’s world and his determination for success, embodying the historical and ever-growing catalog of hip-hop and radical Black expression.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2023
Penelope Green, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2023
Fearing that radicals might attack the ball, two hundred uniformed policemen and forty undercover detectives patrolled the streets outside.
—Kim Phillips-Fein, The New York Review of Books, 28 Sep. 2023
Right now, to my way of thinking, the Democrats are the radicals, because after four and five and six months.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023
That’s Guzmán advance from the re-created narrative of The Battle of Algiers, the classic Pontecorvo dramatic epic so viscerally exciting that American radicals took it as a guide in the 1960s.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Sep. 2023
Even where ethnic differences did not cause outsize tensions, conflicts pitted radicals who wanted to address social inequities against moderates who wanted to focus on constitutional reform.
—Lynn Hunt, The New York Review of Books, 14 Sep. 2023
The audience was made up of students, intellectuals, radicals, and working people of various stripes.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023
The radicals and socialists had done much of the heavy lifting to establish the legitimacy of these new governments, and sanctified the revolution with their own blood.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
Four young antiwar radicals known as the New Year’s Gang created a homemade bomb to target the Army Math Research Center, which was partially funded by the U.S. Army for war efforts and located in the upper floors of Sterling Hall.
—Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2023
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Adjective
More radical elements on both sides — far-right Catholics and left-wing activists — jostled amid bullhorns and placards, and police intervened.
—Kate Brady, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023
Valentina Zannier’s interior is an even more radical departure.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2023
And her life had been threatened: A bomb had been planted at her home, reportedly by members of the New World Liberation Front, one of several underground radical groups operating in the Bay Area.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2023
It was considered to be so radical and so suspicious to want to be physically fit as a regular person.
—Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 28 Sep. 2023
In the ending of the FX comedy-drama, preserving the bonds among generations is a radical, magical act.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023
Finding themselves in a vacuum, without an inclusive peace process or strong international engagement, Karabakh Armenians began to shift from a mere push for self-determination to more radical irredentism.
—Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2023
Victory for them in Strasbourg would be a powerful instance of young people taking a legal route to force their governments to adopt a radical recalibration of their climate measures.
—Barry Hatton and Helena Alves, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2023
The performance uses text, sound, film and dance to explore Mental’s world and his determination for success, embodying the historical and ever-growing catalog of hip-hop and radical Black expression.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2023
Noun
Their West Hampstead apartment became a hub for artists and radicals of all stripes.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2023
Fearing that radicals might attack the ball, two hundred uniformed policemen and forty undercover detectives patrolled the streets outside.
—Kim Phillips-Fein, The New York Review of Books, 28 Sep. 2023
Right now, to my way of thinking, the Democrats are the radicals, because after four and five and six months.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023
That’s Guzmán advance from the re-created narrative of The Battle of Algiers, the classic Pontecorvo dramatic epic so viscerally exciting that American radicals took it as a guide in the 1960s.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Sep. 2023
Even where ethnic differences did not cause outsize tensions, conflicts pitted radicals who wanted to address social inequities against moderates who wanted to focus on constitutional reform.
—Lynn Hunt, The New York Review of Books, 14 Sep. 2023
The audience was made up of students, intellectuals, radicals, and working people of various stripes.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023
The radicals and socialists had done much of the heavy lifting to establish the legitimacy of these new governments, and sanctified the revolution with their own blood.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
Four young antiwar radicals known as the New Year’s Gang created a homemade bomb to target the Army Math Research Center, which was partially funded by the U.S. Army for war efforts and located in the upper floors of Sterling Hall.
—Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'radical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing radical
Articles Related to radical
Dictionary Entries Near radical
Cite this Entry
“Radical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radical. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
radical
1 of 2 adjective
rad·i·cal
ˈrad-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or proceeding from a root
2
a
: departing sharply from the usual or ordinary : extreme
b
: of or relating to radicals in politics
radically
adverb
-k(ə-)lē
radicalness
noun
radical
2 of 2 noun2
: a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government
3
: a group of atoms bonded together that is considered as a unit in various kinds of reactions
4
a
: a mathematical expression (as √͞ x) involving a radical sign
b
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English radical "relating to a root," from Latin radicalis (same meaning), from earlier radic-, radix "root" — related to eradicate, radish
Word Origin
Our word radical was formed from the Latin adjective radicalis, which simply meant "of or relating to a root." The Latin word radix meant "root." This meaning was kept when the word radicalis came into English as radical, but new senses developed too. Since a root is at the bottom of something, radical came to describe what is at the base or beginning, in other words, what is "basic, fundamental." Later, radical was used to describe something that was extremely different from the usual. Then, as a noun radical came to be applied to a person who wants to make extreme or "radical" changes in the government or in society. In mathematics, a radical sign indicates a root of a number. The words radish and eradicate also come from the Latin radix.
Medical Definition
radical
1 of 2 adjective
rad·i·cal
ˈrad-i-kəl
1
: designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased tissue
radical surgery
2
: involving complete removal of an organ
radical prostatectomy
compare conservative
radical
2 of 2 noun
: free radical
also
: a group of atoms bonded together that is considered an entity in various kinds of reactions
More from Merriam-Webster on radical
Nglish: Translation of radical for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of radical for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about radical
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