What does "radical" mean?
A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism).
Radical
/ˈɹædɪkəl/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Top 500 ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism).
- Grammar: radical is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: free radical, root, ab ovo, aboriginal.
- Useful contrasts: derivative, derived, trivial.
- Usage evidence: His argument is more radical than yours.
How to use "radical"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "radical" 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 "radical" 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 "radical" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "radical" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- 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 "radical" is acting as adj, 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 "free radical" 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.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "radical", 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 member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism). historical
- 2 (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed wordnet
- 3 A member of an influential, centrist political party favouring moderate social reform, a republican constitution, and secular politics. historical
- 4 a character conveying the lexical meaning of a logogram wordnet
- 5 A person with radical opinions.
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 a person who has radical ideas or opinions wordnet
- 7 A root (of a number or quantity).
- 8 (mathematics) a quantity expressed as the root of another quantity wordnet
- 9 In logographic writing systems such as the Chinese writing system, the portion of a character (if any) that provides an indication of its meaning, as opposed to phonetic.
"The boy recognised the Chinese characters, though the calligraphy looked a bit strange, as if drawn by someone who had seen them and copied them out radical by radical without knowing what they meant."
- 10 (chemistry) two or more atoms bound together as a single unit and forming part of a molecule wordnet
- 11 In Celtic languages, the basic, underlying form of an initial consonant which can be further mutated under the Celtic initial consonant mutations.
- 12 an atom or group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron; in the body it is usually an oxygen molecule that has lost an electron and will stabilize itself by stealing an electron from a nearby molecule wordnet
- 13 In Semitic languages, any one of the set of consonants (typically three) that make up a root.
- 14 A group of atoms, joined by covalent bonds, that take part in reactions as a single unit.
- 15 A free radical.
- 16 Given an ideal I in a commutative ring R, another ideal, denoted Rad(I) or √, such that an element x ∈ R is in Rad(I) if, for some positive integer n, xⁿ ∈ I; equivalently, the intersection of all prime ideals containing I.
- 17 Given a ring R, an ideal containing elements of R that share a property considered, in some sense, "not good".
- 18 The intersection of maximal submodules of a given module.
- 19 The product of the distinct prime factors of a given positive integer.
Adjective
- 1 Favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter.
"His beliefs are radical."
- 2 Pertaining to a root (of a plant). not-comparable
- 3 Pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something.
"The most determined exertions of that authority, against them, only showed their radical independence."
- 4 Thoroughgoing; far-reaching.
"The spread of the cancer required radical surgery, and the entire organ was removed."
- 5 Of or pertaining to the root of a word. not-comparable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 Produced using the root of the tongue. not-comparable
- 7 Involving free radicals. not-comparable
- 8 Relating to a radix or mathematical root.
"a radical quantity; a radical sign"
- 9 Excellent; awesome. slang
"That was a radical jump!"
Adjective
- 1 especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem wordnet
- 2 (used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm wordnet
- 3 markedly new or introducing radical change wordnet
- 4 arising from or going to the root or source wordnet
- 5 of or relating to or constituting a linguistic root wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"His argument is more radical than yours."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "radical"?
Common synonyms include: free radical, root, ab ovo, aboriginal, absolute, absolute term.
How do you use "radical" in a sentence?
His argument is more radical than yours.
How do you pronounce "radical"?
Pronounced /ˈɹædɪkəl/.
Etymology
PIE word *wréh₂ds Inherited from Middle English radical, from Latin rādīcālis (“of or pertaining to the root, having roots, radical”). Compare grassroots.