rationalize

American  

[rash-uh-nl-ahyz, rash-nl-ahyz] / ˈræʃ ə nlˌaɪz, ˈræʃ nlˌaɪz /

especially British, rationalise

verb (used with object)

rationalized, rationalizing

1. to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes.

2. to remove unreasonable elements from.

3. to make rational or conformable to reason.

4. to treat or explain in a rational or rationalistic manner.

5. Mathematics.  to eliminate radicals from (an equation or expression).

   to rationalize the denominator of a fraction.

6. Chiefly British.  to reorganize and integrate (an industry).

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verb (used without object)

rationalized, rationalizing

1. to invent plausible explanations for acts, opinions, etc., that are actually based on other causes.

   He tried to prove that he was not at fault, but he was obviously rationalizing.

2. to employ reason; think in a rational or rationalistic manner.

rationalize British  

/ ˈræʃənəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to justify (one's actions, esp discreditable actions, or beliefs) with plausible reasons, esp after the event

2. psychol to indulge, often unchallenged, in excuses for or explanations of (behaviour about which one feels uncomfortable or guilty)

3. to apply logic or reason to (something)

4. to eliminate unnecessary equipment, personnel, or processes from (a group of businesses, factory, etc), in order to make it more efficient

5. (tr) maths to eliminate one or more radicals without changing the value of (an expression) or the roots of (an equation)

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Usage

Although rationalize retains its principal 19th-century senses “to make conformable to reason” and “to treat in a rational manner,” 20th-century psychology has given it the now more common meaning “to ascribe (one's acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that seem reasonable but actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious causes.” Although the possibility of ambiguity exists, the context will usually make clear which sense is intended.

Other Word Forms

• nonrationalized adjective
• overrationalize verb
• rationalization noun
• rationalizer noun
• semirationalized adjective
• unrationalized adjective
• unrationalizing adjective

Etymology

Origin of rationalize

First recorded in 1810–20; rational + -ize

Example Sentences

Impulse policies, like impulse buys, can work out well or badly but can never be well rationalized.

From The Wall Street Journal

How do we rationalize the eight years of warfare against ethnic Russians in the Donbass region before the Russian invasion in February 2022?

From Salon

Roy had been older than many of them — kids who were just starting to figure out their lives used as cannon fodder for the broader goals of empire Roy couldn’t even rationalize anymore.

From New York Times

“And furthermore, our feelings are just as valid a way of thinking as your rationalizing. They might be clearer.”

From New York Times

Durham said investigators repeatedly relied on “confirmation bias,” ignoring or rationalizing away evidence that undercut their premise of a Trump-Russia conspiracy as they pushed the probe forward.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• justify