rationale

American  

[rash-uh-nal] / ˌræʃ əˈnæl /

noun

rationales plural

1. the fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something.

   Synonyms:

   ground, basis, logic

2. a statement of reasons.

3. a reasoned exposition of principles.

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rationale British  

/ ˌræʃəˈnɑːl /

noun

1. a reasoned exposition, esp one defining the fundamental reasons for a course of action, belief, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• rationales
  plural

Etymology

Origin of rationale

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin: neuter of ratiōnālis rational

Explanation

The rationale for something is the basic or underlying reason or explanation for it. This noun (pronounced "rash-uh-NAL") is usually used in the singular: What was the rationale behind his decision to quit? The related adjective rational means "based on facts or reason" or "having the ability to think clearly." An example of a rational rationale? You add extra baking soda to pancake batter under the rationale that if you want them to be fluffier, you need more rising agent. Rationale is from Latin, from rationalis "relating to reason," from ratio "calculation, reason," from rērī "to consider, think."

Example Sentences

“Each change arrives wrapped in a reasonable rationale: fiscal discipline, local control, parental choice. But arrange them in the order a child actually grows, and the rationales stop mattering.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2026

This could undermine the rationale for the company’s valuation premium, which has been supported by historically higher profitability and revenue growth than its global peers, the analyst notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

Which rather diminishes the headline, the lede, and the whole rationale for putting the story on the front page.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026

“Our call for durability before potential recovery was wrong,” Bergin wrote, “and sustaining the positive rating doesn’t have a clear rationale as numbers go the wrong way.”

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

The rationale stated by one rule-giver was that “there is in fact no person named for the him to refer to.”

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• excuse
• explanation
• hypothesis
• justification
• motivation
• motive
• philosophy
• principle
• rationalization
• reason
• theory