rationale
noun
ra·tio·nale
ˌra-shə-ˈnal 
1
: an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or phenomena
2
: an underlying reason : basis
Did you know?
Rationale comes from Latin ratio, meaning "reason," and rationalis, "endowed with reason." Ratio is reasonably familiar as an English word for the relationship (in number, quantity, or degree) between things.
Synonyms
Examples of rationale in a Sentence
the rationale for starting the school day an hour later is that kids will supposedly get an extra hour of sleep
Recent Examples on the Web
Mara’s rationale for retaining both his GM and coach, meanwhile, was mind-numbing confirmation that the Giants no longer have any real standards.
—
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2025
The rationale for allowing the play to continue was that the Colorado player knocked into a Buffalo player, which then interfered with Wedgewood.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Beneath each recommendation was printed a brief rationale and pros and cons listed by delegates.
—Nick Romeo, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024
The general rationale is simple: front-end trading services have the closest relationship with customers and therefore in a position to obtain KYC info and report relevant data to the IRS.
—Shehan Chandrasekera, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2025
The rationale for allowing the play to continue was that the Colorado player knocked into a Buffalo player, which then interfered with Wedgewood.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Beneath each recommendation was printed a brief rationale and pros and cons listed by delegates.
—Nick Romeo, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024
The general rationale is simple: front-end trading services have the closest relationship with customers and therefore in a position to obtain KYC info and report relevant data to the IRS.
—Shehan Chandrasekera, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rationale
Dictionary Entries Near rationale
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rationale. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rationale
noun
ra·tio·nale
ˌrash-ə-ˈnal
: a basic reason or explanation for something
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