Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The doctrines or practices of radicals.
  • noun The quality of being radical.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or character of being radical; the holding or carrying out of extreme principles on any subject; specifically, extreme political liberalism; the doctrine or principle of uncompromising reform in government; the system or methods advocated by the political Radicals of a country.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being radical; specifically, the doctrines or principles of radicals in politics or social reform.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Any of various radical social or political movements that aim at fundamental change in the structure of society

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the political orientation of those who favor revolutionary change in government and society

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

radical +‎ -ism

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Examples

  • CIA COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER: The term radicalism really isn't tied so much to economic circumstances.

    CNN Transcript Dec 10, 2009 2009

  • Israeli ambassador to South Africa Uri Oren on Monday condemned what he described as radicalism and extremism by Muslims during a protest in Pretoria last week.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • I am particularly interested to observe that the men who cry out most loudly against what they call radicalism are the men who find that their private game in politics is being spoiled.

    The New Freedom A Call For the Emancipation of the Generous Energies of a People Woodrow Wilson 1890

  • If these gentlemen desire to be taken into companionship and restored to good standing, I am the first man to reach out the hand and say, "Welcome back again, so that you are repentant and regenerated;" but, sir, I am the last man to allow that you shall indorse what you call radicalism for the purpose of breaking down measures which we propose!

    History of Woman Suffrage, Volume II Matilda Joslyn Gage 1862

  • Since extreme radicalism is virtually the same thing as extreme conservatism, I consider a more centerist position on most issues to be a better, wiser, more reasonable approach.

    Why Life is Now More Complicated 2009

  • MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - Somali militants linked to al-Qaeda briefly asserted control over Mogadishu's most strategic road Saturday, escalating their efforts to overthrow the U. S.-backed transitional government in a region where Islamic radicalism is gaining strength.

    Somali militants grow more brazen in attack Sudarsan Raghavan 2010

  • More than 60 years after World War Two and the Nazi Holocaust, right-wing radicalism is still a problem in Germany, particularly in the former communist eastern part of the country where unemployment is nearly double the rate in the west.

    Germany Launches Massive Crackdown on Neo-Nazi Music 2009

  • MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - Somali militants linked to al-Qaeda briefly asserted control over Mogadishu's most strategic road Saturday, escalating their efforts to overthrow the U. S.-backed transitional government in a region where Islamic radicalism is gaining strength.

    Somali militants grow more brazen in attack Sudarsan Raghavan 2010

  • Unlike a government that invades another country, fighting Islamic radicalism is fighting an idea, not a political body.

    Ex-CIA agent: Threat from al Qaeda greater now than on 9/11 2010

  • Since extreme radicalism is virtually the same thing as extreme conservatism, I consider a more centerist position on most issues to be a better, wiser, more reasonable approach.

    Why Life is Now More Complicated 2009

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