top definitions
quizzes
related content
examples
explore dictionary

ratiocination

[ rash-ee-os-uh-ney-shuhn, -oh-suh-, rat-ee- ]

/ ˌræʃ iˌɒs əˈneɪ ʃən, -ˌoʊ sə-, ˌræt i- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ratiocination ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the process of logical reasoning.

QUIZZES

FOR LEXICAL ALIMENTATION, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Nourish your vocabulary with a refresher on the words from the week of September 14–20, 2020!

Question 1 of 7

What does “blatherskite” mean?

a person given to voluble, empty talk.

an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.

a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ratiocination

1520–30; <Latin ratiōcinātiōn- (stem of ratiōcinātiō), equivalent to ratiōcināt(us) (see ratiocinate) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM ratiocination

ra·ti·oc·i·na·tive, adjective

Words nearby ratiocination

rating badge, Ratingen, rating nut, ratio, ratiocinate, ratiocination, ratiometer, ration, rational, rationale, rational-emotive therapy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for ratiocination

I allude to Dr. Thomas Brown, whose theory of ratiocination is peculiar.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
Thou shalt comprehend by intuition what will never be given thee by ratiocination.
Shadows of Flames|Amelie Rives
In the last resort, the value of every probability is fixed by "ratiocination."
A Candid Examination of Theism|George John Romanes
On the other hand, the theory of free-will can be demolished by ratiocination!
The Human Machine|E. Arnold Bennett

It would be difficult to cite a more preposterous example of ratiocination.
Woman in Science|John Augustine Zahm

The Worst Words? See Them Now!