rationalist
rationalist Lexical Profile
rationalist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who bases their opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.
"As a strict rationalist, she demanded verifiable evidence before accepting any extraordinary claim."
An adherent of the philosophical theory that reason, rather than sensory experience, is the primary source and test of knowledge.
"René Descartes is widely regarded as the first modern rationalist in Western philosophy."
• adjective
Relating to, based on, or in accordance with the principles of rationalism or reason.
"The seventeenth-century enlightenment ushered in a wave of rationalist philosophy across Europe."
• Rhymes for rationalist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 17th century from 'rational' and the suffix '-ist', ultimately deriving from the Latin 'rationalis' (belonging to reason), from 'ratio' (reckoning, calculation, reason).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.