Meanings
rationale1
plural rationales · plural rationalia
- An explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons for something.
Synonyms: reasoning, rationalization
- A justification or rationalization for something.
1 more example
He confirmed that Bashir successfully manipulated Diana’s paranoia by showing her brother, Earl Spencer, forged documents that “proved” her closest advisers had betrayed her to the palace, inflaming her desire to speak out for herself. Bashir lied his way to the biggest TV scoop of the 20th century. Dyson’s censure at least gave her two sons some rationale for why Diana did something so destructive to their happiness.
April 5 2022, Tina Brown, “How Princess Diana’s Dance With the Media Impacted William and Harry”, in Vanity FairSynonyms: reasoning
rationale2
plural rationales
- rarelifestyleA liturgical vestment worn by some Christian bishops of various denominations.
the local bishop, H.E. Gregor Maria Hanke, is shown wearing that rarest of liturgical garments, the rationale.
2015, Gregory Dipippo, Rationale Worn by the Bishop of Eichstätt
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons for something.
nounA justification or rationalization for something.
More synonyms by meaning
noun(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
rationale · noun
- Late Latinratiōnāle
- Englishrationale
From Late Latin ratiōnāle.
More words from Late Latin
Full word history & related roots →rationale · noun
- Latinratiōnāle
- Englishrationale
From Latin ratiōnāle.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian логично обяснение, обосновка
- логично обяснение (logično objasnenie)explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- обосновка (obosnovka)justification or rationalization
Chinese Mandarin 推理, 原理
- 推理 (tuīlǐ)explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- 原理 (yuánlǐ)explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- 理由 (lǐyóu)justification or rationalization
- 主教法衣 (zhǔjiào fǎyī)liturgical vestment
Dutch ratio, onderbouwing
- ratioexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- onderbouwingjustification or rationalization
Finnish perustelu, perusteet
- perusteluexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- perusteetexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- perussyytexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- perustelujustification or rationalization
- perusteetjustification or rationalization
- rationaaliliturgical vestment
French raison, justification
- raisonexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- justificationjustification or rationalization
- raisonjustification or rationalization
- rationalliturgical vestment
- surhuméralliturgical vestment
German Argumentation, Begründung
- Argumentationexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- Begründungexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- Rationaleliturgical vestment
- Superhumeraleliturgical vestment
Greek σκεπτικό
- σκεπτικό (skeptikó)explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
Hungarian indoklás, okfejtés
- indoklásexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- okfejtésexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- indokolásjustification or rationalization
Italian razionale
- razionaleliturgical vestment
Norwegian Bokmål rasjonale
- rasjonaleexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
Polish przesłanki, uzasadnienie
- przesłankiexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- uzasadnieniejustification or rationalization
- racjonałliturgical vestment
Russian основа́ние, обоснова́ние
- основа́ние (osnovánije)explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- обоснова́ние (obosnovánije)explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- оправда́ние (opravdánije)explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- основа́ние (osnovánije)justification or rationalization
- рационал (racional)liturgical vestment
Slovak zdôvodnenie, zdôvodnenie
- zdôvodnenieexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- zdôvodneniejustification or rationalization
Spanish fundamentación, fundamento
- fundamentaciónexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- fundamentoexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- raciocinioexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
Turkish mantıklı izah, ussal açıklama
- mantıklı izahexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
- ussal açıklamaexplanation of the basis or fundamental reasons
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with rationale
Anagrams
Cite this entry
rationale. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationale
“rationale.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationale. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rationale,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationale.
Source: rationale on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.