Definition

Something that is excellent or impressive; often used in informal contexts to express approval or admiration.

Example

That concert was so rad, I can't stop thinking about it!

Conversation

Did you see that new skate park they built downtown?

Yeah, it looks so rad!

I can't wait to try it out this weekend.

For sure! It's going to be an awesome place to hang out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A unit of measurement for energy absorbed from ionizing radiation, specifically equal to 100 ergs per gram or 0.01 joules per kilogram of material that has been irradiated.

Example

The scientist measured the radiation exposure in rads to ensure safety.

Conversation

Did you know that the term rad used to be a standard unit for measuring radiation?

Yeah, I read about that in a science article recently!

It's interesting how science evolves; now they use the gray instead of rad.

Root Explanation

Rad is derived from the word 'radical' (from Latin 'radicalis', meaning relating to the root). In slang usage, 'rad' conveys something that is excellent or impressive, reflecting a sense of going back to the roots of what is cool or exciting.

Memory Tip

Think of 'radical' as relating to the 'root' of something, and remember that 'rad' means something is excellent or impressive, going back to what is fundamentally cool.

Visually Confused Words