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rational

ra·tio·nal

UK/ˈɹæʃ(ə)nəl/ US/ˈræʃnʌl/ fairly common

adjective

1.

consistent with or based on or using reason

  • “rational behavior”
  • “a process of rational inference”
  • “rational thought”
2.

of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind

  • “intellectual problems”
  • “the triumph of the rational over the animal side of man”
Similar
3.

capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers

  • “rational numbers”
Antonyms
4.

having its source in or being guided by the intellect (distinguished from experience or emotion)

  • “a rational analysis”

Origin

From Old French rational, from Medieval Latin rationale (“a pontifical stole, a pallium, an ornament worn over the chasuble”), neuter of Latin rationalis (“rational”), for which see the first etymology. Translation of λογεῖον (logeîon) or perhaps λόγιον (lógion, “oracle”) in the Septuagint version of Exodus 28.

Phrases

  • rational basis review
  • rational choice theory
  • rational dress
  • rational egoism
  • rational egoist
  • rational function
  • rational horizon
  • rational numbers

Related words

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.