reasoning

American  

[ree-zuh-ning, reez-ning] / ˈri zə nɪŋ, ˈriz nɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of a person who reasons.

2. the process of forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises.

3. the reasons, arguments, proofs, etc., resulting from this process.

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reasoning British  

/ ˈriːzənɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of drawing conclusions from facts, evidence, etc

2. the arguments, proofs, etc, so adduced

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreasoning
  adjective
• reasoningly
  adverb
• half-reasoning
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of reasoning

First recorded in 1325–75, reasoning is from the Middle English word resoninge. See reason, -ing ²

Explanation

Reasoning is a logical, thoughtful way of thinking. When your teacher explains the reasoning behind his classroom rules, he makes it clear exactly why and how he came up with them. Voters often want to understand the reasoning behind certain laws, and toddlers almost always want to know the reasoning behind rules about bedtime and wearing warm clothes on cold days. You can also use reasoning as an adjective, to describe someone who can think logically. A reasoning adult can make decisions for herself. The word comes from reason, which is rooted in the Old French raisoner, "discuss or argue," and the Late Latin rationare, "to discourse."

Example Sentences

Although modern AI systems can produce impressive language and reasoning capabilities, their underlying mechanisms differ from the attention processes found in biological brains.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

A "reasoning model" trained on task-specific examples interprets the goal and formulates Phantom's action plan.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Muse Spark, Meta’s in-house reasoning tool, helped drive a 10% boost to time spent on Instagram Reels and an 8% lift for Facebook video, both of which were the best engagement figures in four years.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

It’s not uncommon for a justice dissenting from a shadow-docket order to explain their reasoning, even in a way that compares the instant matters with other cases that have recently come before the court.

From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026

Hazel had followed this reasoning to a certain point but he abandoned it before it was resolved, not only abandoned it but searched for some way to change the subject.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• acumen
• analysis
• argument
• hypothesis
• inference
• interpretation
• premise
• proposition
• rationale
• thinking