rationale
noun
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If someone asserts that the word rationale refers to a ration of ale, they are wrong, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an actual rationale (a reason, explanation, or basis) for such a claim. “Rationale looks like the words ration and ale jammed together,” they could offer, and while that is true you’d be justified in responding: “Appearances can be deceiving.” Rationale is a direct borrowing of the Latin word rationale, with which it shares the meaning “an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or phenomena.” The Latin rationale comes from a form of the adjective rationalis (“rational”), which traces back to the noun ratio, meaning “reason.” While the Latin ratio is also the forebear of the English noun ration, referring to a share of something, rationale has nothing to do with a tankard (or stein, or even a pony) of beer.
Examples of rationale in a Sentence
Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Getting more sleep might be another rationale for chowing down them.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 22 Sep. 2025
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, had spent much of Thursday debating the rationale for giving newborns the hepatitis B vaccine at birth — but then the committee pushed off the vote until Friday.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Aside from the macro rationale, the Russell 2000 has plenty of high-velocity speculative names, a quadrant of the market that's flying today.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rationale. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
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rationale
noun
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