radical

//ˈrædɪkəl//
C1Frequency Level 8Neutral
Visual representation of radical

Adjective

radicalCanonical form
more radicalComparative
most radicalSuperlative
1

relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough

The company needs to make radical changes to survive.

2

advocating or based on thorough or complete political or social change; representing or supporting an extreme or progressive section of a political party

The party proposed radical reforms to the education system.

3

of or relating to the root of something; fundamental

We need to make radical changes to the system.

Noun

radicalsPlural
1

a person who advocates thorough or complete political or social reform; a member of a political party or section of a party pursuing extreme policies

The radicals in the party demanded immediate and sweeping changes to the system.

2

a group of atoms behaving as a unit in a number of compounds (chemistry)

A hydroxyl radical consists of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom.

3

the root or base form of a word (linguistics)

In linguistics, the radical of 'running' is 'run'.

radical - Deep Vocabulary