radical
RAD-ih-kul
/ˈræd.ɪ.kəl/
Affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
In art and politics, it means going back to the 'root' to change everything from the ground up, rather than making small adjustments.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'radix,' meaning 'root.' A radical change is one that goes all the way down to the roots of a problem or a system.
Word relationships
- fundamental: Fundamental is more neutral; radical often implies that the change is controversial or extreme.
- drastic: Drastic implies a change made out of necessity or desperation; radical is more ideological.
- superficial: Superficial changes only affect the surface, not the root.
- moderate: Moderate ideas avoid extremes and seek middle ground.
Commonly confused with
- extreme: Extreme refers to the degree of something; radical refers to how deep the change goes.
Word family
- radicalism (noun): The beliefs or actions of people who advocate thorough or complete social or political reform.
- radicalize (verb): To cause someone to adopt radical positions on political or social issues.
Collocations
- radical change
- radical departure
- radical ideas
Example sentences
- "The move from representational art to total abstraction was a radical shift in the history of painting." Describing a change in design.
- "The group proposed a radical restructuring of the tax system to eliminate poverty." A political context.
Memory hook
Think of a 'radish'. A radish is a 'root' vegetable. Radical = Root. Down to the root.
When not to use
In modern slang, 'radical' means 'cool,' but in professional writing, it must mean 'fundamental' or 'extreme'.
Fun facts
- In mathematics, the 'radical sign' (√) is used to indicate the square root of a number.
Related words
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