Radical Left
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Since the early 20th century, Radical Left has been used as an umbrella term to describe those on the political left who adhere explicitly and openly to revolutionary socialism, communism, or anarchism. In this meaning it generally does not include Democratic socialists, Social Democrats, liberals, trade unionists, or those working in electoral politics, since the "radical" qualifier tends in this case to denote nothing less than a revolutionary fervor.
During the 19th century, the term "radical (left)" was used by progressive liberals to distance themselves from classical liberals, which explains why some political parties today considered to be center-left still have "radical" in their names.
The term Radical Left also applies to the names of two social-liberal parties, Det Radikale Venstre in Denmark (which translates into English literally as "radical left"), and the Left Radical Party in France.
Although some neoconservatives in the United States have used the word radical to describe elements of the Democratic Party, this is a malapropism as not even the more "extreme" elements of the party approach the meaning of "Radical Left" in other countries.