rational

adjective

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ra·tio·nal | \ ˈrash-nəl

, ˈra-shə-nᵊl \

Definition of rational

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : having reason or understanding

b : relating to, based on, or agreeable to reason : reasonable a rational explanation rational behavior

2 : involving only multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction and only a finite number of times

3 : relating to, consisting of, or being one or more rational numbers a rational root of an equation

rational

noun

Definition of rational (Entry 2 of 2)

: something rational specifically : rational number

Other Words from rational Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about rational

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Examples of rational in a Sentence

Adjective human beings are rational creatures insisted there was a rational explanation for the strange creaking noises and that there were no such things as ghosts

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective In the calls, which prosecutor Butch Ford played for jurors Tuesday and Wednesday, Cowell sounds friendly and rational. — Megan Cassidy, SFChronicle.com, "Nia Wilson trial: Killer’s aunt says prosecution cherry-picked lucid jail house calls," 19 Feb. 2020 Our government and industries are struggling mightily to observe rational and scientific coronavirus protocols in the face of the unknown. — Phillip Morris, cleveland, "Coronavirus now irrationally influences travel near and far: Phillip Morris," 14 Feb. 2020 Atheists since Hume have insisted that society does not need transcendence in order to be moral and rational. — Samuel James, National Review, "There Is No ‘Party of Science’," 14 Feb. 2020 Fans are unlikely to be rational about Betts’s departure. — Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, "Trading Mookie Betts means the Red Sox have given up on 2020 season," 4 Feb. 2020 An air sign, Aquarius is rational and intellectual. — Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, "The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Mercury Retrograde in 2020," 25 Jan. 2020 Medications, which mostly include antidepressants, reduce the high level of emotional arousal, allowing a person to more effectively use their rational brain in dealing with stressful conditions. — Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, "Veterans, refugees and victims of war crimes are all vulnerable to PTSD," 21 Jan. 2020 Reintroducing wolves tends to rile up emotions, pitting people against each other, and making rational wildlife management more difficult. — Ben Long, Outdoor Life, "Colorado Braces for Wolves as Politics Clash with Wildlife Management," 13 Jan. 2020 Texts written by — pace Bart Ehrman — first-century Jewish peasants do not exactly tickle the modern’s hyper-rational fancies. — John Hirschauer, National Review, "The Impossible Idea," 25 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rational.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near rational

rational expectations

rational fraction

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Last Updated

27 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Rational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rational. Accessed 29 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for rational

rational

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of rational

: based on facts or reason and not on emotions or feelings

: having the ability to reason or think about things clearly

See the full definition for rational in the English Language Learners Dictionary

rational

adjective

ra·tio·nal | \ ˈra-shə-nᵊl

Kids Definition of rational

1 : having the ability to reason Humans are rational creatures.

2 : based on or showing reason rational thinking a rational decision

rational

adjective

ra·tio·nal | \ ˈrash-nəl, -ən-ᵊl

Medical Definition of rational

1a : having reason or understanding

b : relating to, based on, or agreeable to reason a rational explanation rational behavior

2 : using medical treatments based on reason or general principles —used especially of an ancient school of physicians — compare empirical sense 1a

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rational

adjective

ra·tio·nal | \ ˈra-shə-nəl

Legal Definition of rational

1 : having reason or understanding

2 : relating to, based on, or guided by reason, principle, fairness, logic, a legitimate state interest, or a consideration of fact age distinctions are not subject to strict scrutiny, but they must have a rational relationship to a legitimate state interest — In re J. M., 642 A.2d 1062 (1994)