rationale
noun
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If someone asserts that the word rationale refers to a ration of ale, they are wrong, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an actual rationale (a reason, explanation, or basis) for such a claim. “Rationale looks like the words ration and ale jammed together,” they could offer, and while that is true you’d be justified in responding: “Appearances can be deceiving.” Rationale is a direct borrowing of the Latin word rationale, with which it shares the meaning “an explanation of controlling principles of opinion, belief, practice, or phenomena.” The Latin rationale comes from a form of the adjective rationalis (“rational”), which traces back to the noun ratio, meaning “reason.” While the Latin ratio is also the forebear of the English noun ration, referring to a share of something, rationale has nothing to do with a tankard (or stein, or even a pony) of beer.
Examples of rationale in a Sentence
Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
And finally, the other question that my colleagues and I are deeply worried about, is the entire legal rationale for these strikes.
—CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
On Friday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doubled down on the franchise’s rationale for moving on from Micah Parsons, and added a fresh perspective to a saga that’s followed both teams since the blockbuster trade in August.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
But there’s an extra rationale.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rationale
Cite this Entry
“Rationale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rationale. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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rationale
noun
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