Radical
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈɹædɪkəl/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Radical is an adjective meaning Favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter.
Meaning
Favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter.
More Meanings
- (botany, not comparable) Pertaining to a root (of a plant).
- Pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something.
- Thoroughgoing; far-reaching.
- (lexicography, not comparable) Of or pertaining to the root of a word.
- (phonology, phonetics, not comparable, of a sound) Produced using the root of the tongue.
- (chemistry, not comparable) Involving free radicals.
- (mathematics) Relating to a radix or mathematical root.
Example Sentences
His beliefs are radical.
That was a radical jump!
a radical quantity; a radical sign
The spread of the cancer required radical surgery, and the entire organ was removed.
Word Forms
- radicals
Synonyms for radical
Depending on context, synonyms include primitive, Jacobin, fundamental, rad, base, group.
Antonyms for radical
Common opposites include derivative, derived, ignorable, trivial, cauline.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include extremist, revolutionary, ultra, group, basal, basic.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.