Radicate

Radicate is an English verb meaning to root out or remove completely; to eradicate or extinguish something undesirable at its source. It is more literary or formal in tone and is rarely used in everyday speech.

Etymology and history: Radicate derives from Latin radicare, meaning to root or strike from the root, from radix meaning root. The form entered English in earlier centuries and, over time, has become uncommon in modern usage, with eradication as the prevailing term.

Usage and frequency: Because eradicate is the standard choice, radicate tends to appear in formal, historical, or literary contexts. It can convey a sense of thorough rooting—similar to removing something at its base—but it may sound archaic to contemporary readers. In practical writing about pests, disease, or corruption, authors typically favor eradicate or eliminate. In some contexts, radicate may appear for rhetorical emphasis or stylistic variety.

Relation to related terms: Radicate should not be confused with mathematical vocabulary. In mathematics, the word radicate is not standard; the related terms radicand (the number or expression under a radical sign) and root (the operation or result of extracting a root) are used instead. This helps distinguish the general sense of rooting out from technical radical notation.

See also: eradicate, root, radicand, radical.