Standard Lemma guide

reasonability

noun · 1 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or quality of being reasonable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • 1897, Judson Harmon, "Brief for the United States in the Case of the United States of America v. The Trans-Missouri Freight Association," The Yale Law Journal, vol. 6, no. 6, p. 323n., The very difficult inquiry as to the reasonability of such agreements was an inadequate protection.
  • 2003, F. R. Anscombe, "Quiet Contributor: The Civic Career and Times of John W. Tukey," Statistical Science, vol. 18, no. 3, p. 302 (quoting National Academy of Sciences president Philip Handler), "The nation and the Academy can count themselves fortunate that your integrated intelligence, insight, sound judgment, good taste, and unflappable reasonability were all available."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reasonableness

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From reason(able) + -ability. Compare Middle English unresonabiltee, unresonabylite, whence unreasonability. Piecewise doublet of rationability.