What does "rad" mean?
A non-SI unit of absorbed dose of radiation, equal to 0.01 gray, that is, 1 centigray.
Rad
adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·1 syllable ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A non-SI unit of absorbed dose of radiation, equal to 0.01 gray, that is, 1 centigray.
- Grammar: rad is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: absorbed-dose unit, awesome, brutal, cool.
- Useful contrasts: boring, conventional, dull.
- Usage evidence: In the Guinness Book of World-fucking-Records, man… under "Raddest Fucking Dude Alive"!
How to use "rad"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rad" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rad" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rad" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rad" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rad" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absorbed-dose unit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rad", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A non-SI unit of absorbed dose of radiation, equal to 0.01 gray, that is, 1 centigray.
"Near-synonyms: centigray, cGy (same physical quantity)"
- 2 Initialism of role activity diagram. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism
- 3 the unit of plane angle adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites; equal to the angle at the center of a circle subtended by an arc equal in length to the radius (approximately 57.295 degrees) wordnet
- 4 Symbol for the radian, a unit of measure for angle. alt-of, symbol
- 5 Initialism of rapid application development. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material wordnet
- 7 Clipping of radiator. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, slang
- 8 Initialism of reactive attachment disorder. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 9 Abbreviation of sight radius. abbreviation, alt-of, slang
- 10 Clipping of radical: a political radical. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
"The women who work in it with me are all feminists, they're all rads, two of them are black belts in karate...I mean, they're major women."
Adjective
- 1 Clipping of radical (“excellent”). abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, dated, slang
"In the Guinness Book of World-fucking-Records, man… under "Raddest Fucking Dude Alive"!"
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of Radiation Assessment Detector, a scientific instrument of the Mars Science Laboratory onboard the Curiosity rover at Mars. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 2 Acronym of River Arts District, a neighborhood of Asheville, North Carolina, United States. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
"The recovery is still a work in progress, given the deadly storm’s massive impact on people across Western North Carolina and its devastation of two popular Asheville neighborhoods — the RAD (“rad”), as locals call it, and nearby Biltmore Village."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"In the Guinness Book of World-fucking-Records, man… under "Raddest Fucking Dude Alive"!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rad"?
Common synonyms include: absorbed-dose unit, awesome, brutal, cool, dope, dose unit.
How do you use "rad" in a sentence?
In the Guinness Book of World-fucking-Records, man… under "Raddest Fucking Dude Alive"!