radical

1 of 2

adjective

rad·i·cal ˈra-di-kəl

Synonyms of radical next

: 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

: of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root

: of or relating to a mathematical root

: designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue

radical surgery

radical mastectomy

: of or relating to the origin : fundamental

: very different from the usual or traditional : extreme

: favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions

: associated with political views, practices, and policies of extreme change

: advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs

the radical right

slang : excellent, cool

radicalness noun

radical

2 of 2

noun

: a root part

: a basic principle : foundation

: root sense 6

: a sound or letter belonging to a radical

: one who is radical

: 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

: a mathematical expression indicating a root by means of a radical sign

: radical sign

Example Sentences

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 See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Many balked at the idea, dismissing it as too radical, too raw. —

Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023 And another $30 million helping radical right-wing state legislators ban the teaching of slavery. —

Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 16 May 2023 When radical activists the building seizing 300 hostages, Joey Locke (Ridley), ex-soldier turned window cleaner, suspended 90 stories up on the outside of the building, has to save those trapped inside. —

Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2023 Contesting for the first time, the party’s platform includes a radical national reform agenda that threatens to shake up Thailand’s conservative establishment. —

Helen Regan, CNN, 11 May 2023 Eig clearly did a lot of reporting on this more radical side of King. —

Mark Whitaker, Washington Post, 10 May 2023 More radical yet: Each figure in the window is rendered with dark skin, a revolutionary gesture. —

Malcolm Gay, BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2023 But radical environmentalists and President Biden’s Green New Deal policies threaten energy production — and our nation’s prosperity and energy independence. —

Charles Mitchell, National Review, 3 May 2023 As a member of the House Freedom Caucus, DeSantis stood with fiscal hardliners who sought a radical overhaul of these programs as well as other dramatic spending cuts. —

David Faris, The Week, 27 Apr. 2023

Noun

In the aftermath of the Continental Army’s retreat on September 15, the city was crawling with ardent Loyalists, New England radicals, British soldiers and Rebel spies—not to mention rumors that a fire was coming. —

Erik Ofgang, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 May 2023 Tear gas hung over the end point of the Paris march, Place de la Nation, where a huge black cloud lofted high above the trees after radicals set two fuel cans afire outside a building renovation site, police said. —

Alex Turnbull, ajc, 1 May 2023 The Biden rule would encourage aggressive campaigns by radicals and transgender activists to allow males to compete against girls and women and deprive them of athletic championships, medals, trophies, and related honors. —

David M. Simon, National Review, 16 Apr. 2023 There is of course a certain level of suspense surrounding whether the defendant, Pierre Goldman (Arieh Worthalter), a leftist radical who committed several robberies and is accused of murdering two pharmacists, will be acquitted. —

Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 While marchers were largely peaceful, violence by radicals, an ever-present reality at French marches, marred the message, notably in Paris. —

Alex Turnbull, ajc, 1 May 2023 As with the ragtag group of radicals in their film, each brought their expertise to pull off a job that no one thought was possible. —

Katie Rife, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2023 Research has shown that native Chinese speakers process Chinese characters similarly, which have combinations of strokes and radicals. —

Jamie Dickman, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2023 Handmade bombs are not new in Japan, where non-lethal versions of explosives such as Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs were often used by student radicals and extremists in the 1960s and 1970s to throw at riot police and damage property. —

Mari Yamaguchi, ajc, 17 Apr. 2023 See More

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

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Late Latin radicalis, from Latin radic-, radix root — more at root

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of radical was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Radical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radical. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

radical

1 of 2 adjective

rad·i·cal ˈrad-i-kəl

: of, relating to, or proceeding from a root

: departing sharply from the usual or ordinary : extreme

: of or relating to radicals in politics

radically

-k(ə-)lē

adverb

radicalness noun

radical

2 of 2 noun

: root entry 1 sense 5

: a person who favors rapid and sweeping changes especially in laws and methods of government

: a group of atoms bonded together that is considered as a unit in various kinds of reactions

: a mathematical expression (as √͞ x) involving a radical sign

: radical sign

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.