radical Meaning & Definition
What Does Radical Mean?
Radical is used as an adjective meaning Of or pertaining to the root of a plant. It is also used to mean Of or pertaining to the root of a word. As a noun, it means A root (of a number or quantity). As a noun, it means (historical: 19th-century Britain) A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism).
Quick Facts About Radical
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹædɪkəl/ |
| Synonyms | base, group and basal |
| Antonyms | cauline, derivative and derived |
| Plural | radicals |
| Comparative / superlative | more radical, most radical |
Radical Definition (Adjective)
- Of or pertaining to the root of a plant.
- Of or pertaining to the root of a word.
- Produced using the root of the tongue.
- Relating to a radix or mathematical root.
a radical quantity; a radical sign
- Pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something.
- Favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter.
His beliefs are radical.
- Thoroughgoing; far-reaching.
The spread of the cancer required radical surgery, and the entire organ was removed.
- Involving free radicals.
- Excellent; awesome.
That was a radical jump!
Radical as a Noun
- A root (of a number or quantity).
- In logographic writing systems such as the Chinese writing system, the portion of a character used to index it. Often, but not always, this is also the portion indicating meaning; compare the following sense. 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 being wholly phonetic.
- 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 being wholly phonetic.
- Any component of a logographic character, whether used for indexing or not, whether semantic or not.
- In Celtic languages, the basic, underlying form of an initial consonant which can be further mutated under the Celtic initial consonant mutations.
- In Semitic languages, any one of the set of consonants (typically three) that make up a root.
- A group of atoms, joined by covalent bonds, that take part in reactions as a single unit.
- A free radical.
- Given an ideal I in a commutative ring R, another ideal, denoted Rad(I) or I, such that an element x ∈ R is in Rad(I) if, for some positive integer n, x ∈ I; equivalently, the intersection of all prime ideals containing I.
- Given a ring R, an ideal containing elements of R that share a property considered, in some sense, "not good".
- The intersection of maximal submodules of a given module.
- The product of the distinct prime factors of a given positive integer.
- A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism).
- A member of an influential, centrist political party favouring moderate social reform, a republican constitution, and secular politics.
- A person with radical opinions.
Noun
- (historical: 19th-century Britain) A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism).
- (historical: early 20th-century France) A member of an influential, centrist political party favouring moderate social reform, a republican constitution, and secular politics.
- 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.
- (commutative algebra, of an ideal) Given an ideal I in a commutative ring R, another ideal, denoted Rad(I) or \sqrt{I}, 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.
- (of a ring) Given a ring R, an ideal containing elements of R that share a property considered, in some sense, "not good".
- (of a module) The intersection of maximal submodules of a given module.
Adjective
- Pertaining to a root (of a plant).
- (of a sound) Produced using the root of the tongue.
- (1980s & 1990s) Excellent; awesome.
That was a radical jump!
Synonyms of Radical
Antonyms of Radical
Radical in a Sentence
a radical quantity; a radical sign
His beliefs are radical.
The spread of the cancer required radical surgery, and the entire organ was removed.
That was a radical jump!
Word Forms & Grammar
radical (comparative more radical, superlative most radical)
radical (plural radicals)
Words That Rhyme With Radical
Origin of Radical
Inherited from Middle English radical, from Latin rādīcālis (“of or pertaining to the root, having roots, radical”). Compare grassroots.
Questions People Ask About Radical
Is radical an adjective or a noun?
Radical is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for radical?
Close synonyms of radical are base, group and basal. See the full list of radical synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of radical?
Words opposite in meaning to radical are cauline, derivative, derived and ignorable.
What is the plural of radical?
The plural of radical is radicals.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of radical?
The comparative form is more radical and the superlative form is most radical.