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

• account
• accounting
• argument
• case
• explanation
• reason

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

What’s the rationale behind the flotation of 10% of MBC that took place on the Saudi stock exchange in January? —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Apr. 2024

The group’s rationale was that women in their 40s faced a low risk of breast cancer and that frequent testing of asymptomatic women in this age group caused too many to endure biopsies and other invasive procedures that were unnecessary and potentially dangerous. —Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, neuter of rationalis

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

rationale

noun

ra·​tio·​nale ˌrash-ə-ˈnal 

: a basic reason or explanation for something