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Definition of rationale

rationale

/ˌræʃ.əˈnæl/
ra · tion · ale
Adverb:rationally
•
Plural:rationales
•
Adjective:rational
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rationale Lexical Profile

rationale Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action, decision, or belief.

Example

"The committee asked the director to explain the rationale behind the sudden policy change."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for rationale

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'rationale' (a noun meaning an underlying set of reasons, stressed on the final syllable) with 'rational' (an adjective meaning logical or sensible, stressed on the first syllable).

• Rhymes for rationale

• Nearby Words

ratio
ration
rational
rationale
rationalist
rationality
rationalization

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Late Latin 'rationale', the neuter substantive of 'rationalis' (meaning 'of or belonging to reason'), from Latin 'ratio' ('reckoning, calculation, reason').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rationale. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rationale
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