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radical Definition

radi·cal (rad′i kəl)

adjective

    1. of or from the root or roots; going to the foundation or source of something; fundamental; basic a radical principle
    2. extreme; thorough a radical change in one's life
    1. favoring fundamental or extreme change; specif., favoring basic change in the social or economic structure
    2. designating or of any of various modern political parties, esp. in Europe, ranging from moderate to conservative in program
  3. Bot. of or coming from the root
  4. Math. having to do with the root or roots of a number or quantity

Etymology: ME < LL radicalis < L radix (gen. radicis), root

noun

    1. a basic or root part of something
    2. a fundamental
    1. a person holding radical views, esp. one favoring fundamental social or economic change
    2. a member or adherent of a Radical party
  3. Chem. a group of two or more atoms that acts as a single atom and goes through a reaction unchanged, or is replaced by a single atom: it is normally incapable of separate existence
  4. Math.
    1. the indicated root of a quantity or quantities, shown by an expression written under the radical sign
    2. radical sign

radical Related Forms

rad′i·cal·ness noun

radical Synonyms

radical

modif.

  1. Fundamental

    basic, original, primitive, underlying; see fundamental 1, organic.

  2. Advocating extreme change

    extremist, revolutionary, fanatical, militant, rabid, insurgent, iconoclastic, advanced, forward, insurrectionary, progressive, revisionist, abolitionist, leftist, communistic, left-wing, uncompromising, intransigent, recalcitrant, mutinous, rebellious, recusant, subversive, seditious, riotous, lawless, ultraconservative, racist, white supremacist, insubordinate, anarchistic, nihilistic, Bolshevistic, Communist, socialist, liberal, immoderate, heretical, freethinking, avant-garde, Jacobinic, ultraist, ultraistic, ultra, red*, pink*; see also fanatical, rebellious 2, revolutionary 1.

    Antonyms conservative*, reformist, gradualist.

  3. Thoroughgoing

    extreme, drastic, thorough, complete; see comprehensive, extreme 2. See syn. study at liberal.

radical Synonyms

radical

n.

extremist, militant, revolutionary, fanatic, insurgent, objector, revolutionist, insurrectionist, leftist, anarchist, socialist, communist, pacifist, syndicalist, nihilist, ultraist, ultra, subversive, rebel, revolter, mutineer, firebrand, Jacobin, sans-culotte, Bolshevik, Bolshevist, anarcho-syndicalist, renegade, crusader, individualist, fascist, Nazi, racist, white supremacist, misfit, iconoclast, member of the lunatic fringe, eccentric, freethinker, rightist, yippie, hippie, Black nationalist, demonstrator, peace marcher, rioter, fifth columnist, nonconformist, left-winger, right-winger, ultraconservative, John Bircher, pinko*, red*; see also agitator, rebel 1.

radical Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • scavenge: Smoking Ginkgo's ability to scavenge free radicals means that it will make a substantial difference to the potential damage smoking may present.
  • generate: Vitamin C also has antioxidant properties, defending against damaging free radicals generated during the inflammatory response, sepsis or stress.
  • fight: As plants evolved, they developed antioxidants to fight free radicals, Heber says.

Adjective modifier

  • free: Indeed, free radicals have an impact on all of our lives.
  • harmful: These mechanisms involve special enzymes that turn the harmful radicals into innocuous water and oxygen.
  • Islamic: Islamic radicals, like Hitler, cultivate support by nurturing grievances against others.
  • left-wing: According to left-wing radicals, the collective equality of citizenship of the Nation-People provided the antidote to the selfish privileges of the private property-owners.
  • dangerous: Scientists at the University of Ulster have found that unaccustomed, aerobic exercise releases dangerous free radicals.
  • religious: He therefore fell out with political radicals such as the Levelers while retaining the support of most religious radicals.

Modifies a noun

  • overhaul: And three weeks later we set out how we would deliver the radical overhaul to the regulatory system we promised.
  • prostatectomy: From all the options available to me, I selected radical prostatectomy, which was carried out a week later at the London Clinic.
  • reform: The radical reforms outlined in the 1947 Education Act came into being on 1 April 1948.
  • departure: Musically this was a radical departure from the previous line-up.
  • rethink: Food hygiene training in the UK: time for a radical rethink?
  • transformation: In between these two landmark years German society underwent a radical transformation.

Modifying Another Word

  • truly: There is a truly radical change involved in true mission.
  • fairly: This has to be treated straight away, in a fairly radical way.

Noun used with modifier

  • hydroxyl: Produced by smoldering fires, carbon monoxide reduces concentrations of reactive atmospheric chemicals called hydroxyl radicals that remove methane from the air.
  • methyl: It would be formed from combining two methyl radicals: H 3 C.
  • oxygen: It is thought that oxygen radicals cause abnormalities in the developing retinal blood supply.