rationale
noun
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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
Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 June 2024
Resignations also occurred in the George W. Bush administration during the Iraq War as officials questioned the rationale for the U.S. invasion and deaths of American service members.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 12 June 2024
An Unauthorized War The list of adversaries U.S. forces are fighting in Syria raises questions about the underlying legal rationales for the U.S. deployment.
—Brian Finucane, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024
And a historical footnote: Those of you with long memories may recall that Obama’s principal (public) rationale for socializing American medicine was to reduce costs.
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for rationale 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rationale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rationale
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“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rationale. Accessed 21 Jun. 2024.
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rationale
noun
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