Standard Lemma guide

rationalize

verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈɹæʃənəlaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R AE1 SH AH0 N AH0 L AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make something rational or more rational.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: British, English, Oxford, US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To justify a discreditable act, or irrational behaviour.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: British, English, Oxford, US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: British, English, Oxford, US

Topics: mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To structure something along modern, efficient and systematic lines, or according to scientific principles. This often includes eliminating duplication and grouping like or similar items.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: British, English, Oxford, US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

weed out unwanted or unnecessary things

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cut, prune, rationalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: extinguish, eliminate, get rid of, do away with

6

verb

Meaning 6

remove irrational quantities from

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This function can be rationalized

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rationalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

7

verb

Meaning 7

think rationally; employ logic or reason

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rationalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: think, cogitate, cerebrate

8

verb

Meaning 8

defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior
  • he rationalized his lack of success

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: defend, support, fend for

Narrower terms: color, colour, gloss, plead, extenuate, palliate, mitigate

9

verb

Meaning 9

structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rationalise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: organize, organise

History

Etymology

From French rationaliser. By surface analysis, rational + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Albanian: arësyetoj — to make something rational
  • Catalan: racionalitzar — to make something rational
  • Finnish: järkiperäistää — to make something rational
  • Finnish: rationalisoida — to make something rational
  • Finnish: järkevöittää — to make something rational
  • French: rationaliser — to make something rational
  • German: rationalisieren — to make something rational
  • Hungarian: észszerűsít — to make something rational
  • Hungarian: racionalizál — to make something rational
  • Russian: рационализи́ровать (racionalizírovatʹ) — to make something rational
  • Spanish: racionalizar — to make something rational
  • Tagalog: isamatwid — to make something rational
  • Finnish: rationaalistaa — to justify negative behaviour
  • Finnish: älyllistää — to justify negative behaviour
  • French: rationaliser — to justify negative behaviour
  • German: rationalisieren (psych.) — to justify negative behaviour
  • German: rechtfertigen — to justify negative behaviour
  • German: schönreden — to justify negative behaviour
  • Hungarian: megideologizál — to justify negative behaviour
  • Slovak: racionalizovať — to justify negative behaviour
  • Catalan: racionalitzar — math: to remove radicals
  • Finnish: rationaalistaa — math: to remove radicals
  • Portuguese: racionalizar — math: to remove radicals
  • Spanish: racionalizar — math: to remove radicals
  • Finnish: järkeistää — to structure along systematic lines
  • Finnish: rationalisoida — to structure along systematic lines
  • Spanish: racionalizar — to structure along systematic lines