rationality

R1A1T1I1O1N1A1L1I1T1Y4
/ˌraʃəˈnalɪti/

noun

The quality or state of being rational; due exercise of reason; reasonableness.

“His sudden loss of rationality was brought on by excess drink.”

Similar
rationalnessreasonreasonableness
OriginFrench rationalité ← Late Latin rationalitas ← Latin rationalis →
Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nounrationality (usually uncountable, plural rationalities)

plural rationalities

  1. uncountableusuallyThe quality or state of being rational; due exercise of reason; reasonableness.

    His sudden loss of rationality was brought on by excess drink.

  2. uncountableusuallyObjective consideration.

    Such a discussion deserves rationality, not emotional gut reactions.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
rationalness

nounthe state of having good sense and sound judgment

Similar
reasonreasonableness
Broader
sanitysaneness

nounthe quality of being consistent with or based on logic

Similar
rationalness
Broader
logicalitylogicalness
Also see
rationabilityrationalnessreasonreasonableness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinrationalis“reasonable”
  2. Late Latinrationalitas“rationality, reasonableness”
  3. Frenchrationalité
  4. Englishrationality

From rational + -ity, from French rationalité, from Late Latin rationalitas (“rationality, reasonableness”), from Latin rationalis (“reasonable”).

More words from French, Late Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian рационалност, разумност
  • рационалност (racionalnost)quality or state of being rational
  • разумност (razumnost)objective consideration
Catalan racionalitat
  • racionalitatquality or state of being rational
Danish rationalitet
  • rationalitetquality or state of being rational
Dutch rationaliteit
  • rationaliteitquality or state of being rational
Finnish rationaliteetti, rationaalisuus
  • rationaliteettiquality or state of being rational
  • rationaalisuusquality or state of being rational
  • järkevyysquality or state of being rational
  • järkiperäisyysquality or state of being rational
  • järkevyysobjective consideration
  • järkiperäisyysobjective consideration
French rationalité
  • rationalitéquality or state of being rational
Hungarian észszerűség, racionalitás
  • észszerűségquality or state of being rational
  • racionalitásquality or state of being rational
Irish réasúnacht, réasúnaíocht
  • réasúnachtquality or state of being rational
  • réasúnaíochtquality or state of being rational
  • réasúntachtquality or state of being rational
Italian razionalità
  • razionalitàquality or state of being rational
Latvian racionalitāte
  • racionalitātequality or state of being rational
Norwegian Bokmål rasjonalitet
  • rasjonalitetquality or state of being rational
Polish racjonalność
  • racjonalnośćquality or state of being rational
Portuguese racionalidade
  • racionalidadequality or state of being rational
Russian рациона́льность
  • рациона́льность (racionálʹnostʹ)quality or state of being rational
Spanish racionalidad
  • racionalidadquality or state of being rational
Swedish rationalitet
  • rationalitetquality or state of being rational
Tamil பகுத்தறிவு
  • பகுத்தறிவு (pakuttaṟivu)objective consideration
Turkish rasyonellik
  • rasyonellikquality or state of being rational
Ukrainian раціона́льність
  • раціона́льність (racionálʹnistʹ)quality or state of being rational
Cite this entry
APA

rationality. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationality

MLA

“rationality.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationality. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rationality,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rationality.

Source: rationality on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.