Word of the Day

: December 18, 2021

rationale

noun rash-uh-NAL

What It Means

A rationale is an explanation or reason for something said or done.

// Senators who opposed the bill were questioned by media to uncover their rationale for voting against it.

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rationale in Context

"The casting of Chris Pratt as the voice of both Mario and Garfield has resulted in further mocking online, but his previous work as a voice artist goes some way in justifying the rationale behind these decisions. Pratt is no stranger to voice acting, having starred in both The LEGO Movie and its sequel….Pratt also voiced elf Barley in Pixar's Onward." — Andrew Waskett-Burt, Screen Rant, 5 Nov. 2021

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.