rationale

[rash-uh-nal]

See more synonyms for rationale on Thesaurus.com

noun

the fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something.
a statement of reasons.
a reasoned exposition of principles.

Origin of rationale

1650–60; < Latin: neuter of ratiōnālis rational

Synonyms

See more synonyms for rationale on Thesaurus.com

1. logic, basis, grounds.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for rationale

Contemporary Examples

But fishing for rationale in harassment is almost always a waste of time.
A Female Writer’s New Milestone: Her First Death Threat
Annie Gaus
December 1, 2014
The rationale in those cases, he said, is that DNA should be used to identify the assailant.
How the U.S. Ended Up With 400,000 Untested Rape Kits
Caitlin Dickson
September 23, 2014
What was your rationale behind ending Rilo Kiley and moving on to the next phase of your career?
Jenny Lewis on 'The Voyager,' the End of Rilo Kiley, and High School Classmate Angelina Jolie
Marlow Stern
August 17, 2014
The rationale for the 5,000-mile transfer seems to be two-fold.
Emory Will Wage High-Tech War on Ebola
Kent Sepkowitz
August 1, 2014
Minnesota cited the risk of “hormone disruption” from triclosan as the rationale for its action.
Antibacterial Soap’s Deadly Secret
Kent Sepkowitz
May 21, 2014

Historical Examples

I leave it to the wise to decipher the rationale, but such is the fact.
The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer, Complete
Charles James Lever (1806-1872)
Yet I could contact no other rationale around me as far away as I could probe.
Cogito, Ergo Sum
John Foster West
"Marls appear to exist as rationale and emotion," I reasoned.
Cogito, Ergo Sum
John Foster West
Is it not possible to forget the fact too much in discussing the rationale of the process?
Strong Souls
Charles Beard
Throughout the book the order of presentation is the experiment, rationale, and remarks.
James Cutbush
Edgar F. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for rationale

rationale

noun

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

Word Origin

C17: from New Latin, from Latin ratiōnālis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rationale

n.

1650s, "exposition of principles," from Late Latin rationale, noun use of neuter of Latin rationalis "of reason" (see rational). Hence, "fundamental reason" (1680s).

rationale

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}rationale

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for rationale

Contemporary Examples

But fishing for rationale in harassment is almost always a waste of time.

The rationale in those cases, he said, is that DNA should be used to identify the assailant.

What was your rationale behind ending Rilo Kiley and moving on to the next phase of your career?

The rationale for the 5,000-mile transfer seems to be two-fold.

Minnesota cited the risk of “hormone disruption” from triclosan as the rationale for its action.

Historical Examples

I leave it to the wise to decipher the rationale, but such is the fact.

Yet I could contact no other rationale around me as far away as I could probe.

"Marls appear to exist as rationale and emotion," I reasoned.

Is it not possible to forget the fact too much in discussing the rationale of the process?

Throughout the book the order of presentation is the experiment, rationale, and remarks.

rationale

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for rationale

n.

Origin of rationale