rationalism

noun

ra·​tio·​nal·​ism ˈrash-nə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce rationalism (audio)
ˈra-shə-nə-ˌli-
1
: reliance on reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth
2
a
: a theory that reason is in itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions
b
: a view that reason and experience rather than the nonrational are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems
3
rationalist
ˈrash-nə-list How to pronounce rationalism (audio)
ˈra-shə-nə-list
noun
rationalist adjective
or rationalistic
ˌrash-nə-ˈli-tik How to pronounce rationalism (audio)
ˌra-shə-nə-ˈli-
rationalistically
ˌrash-nə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce rationalism (audio)
ˌra-shə-nə-ˈli-
adverb

Examples of rationalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Political and biblical inheritance are thus far more responsible for the modern-day United States than revolution, liberal rationalism, or hyper-individualism. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 In a sense, what Kurz did was inject respectability and rationalism into what was at heart a populist platform. Franz-Stefan Gady, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2017 But First … Issue The View from Here Is Silicon Valley a bastion of rationalism? Air Mail, 24 May 2025 The inherent orthodoxy of his premise excluded all other alternatives to narrow-minded rationalism and its ethical constraints. Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rationalism

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rationalism was circa 1732

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rationalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rationalism. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rationalism

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!