rationalize

(răsh'ə-nə-līz')

v., -ized, -iz·ing, -iz·es.

v.tr.

1. To make rational.
2. To interpret from a rational standpoint.
3. To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one's behavior): "Many shoppers still rationalize luxury purchases as investments" (Janice Castro).
4. Mathematics. To remove radicals, such as from a denominator, without changing the value of (an expression) or roots of (an equation).
5. Chiefly British. To bring modern, efficient methods to (an industry, for example).

v.intr.

1. To think in a rational or rationalistic way.
2. To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for one's behavior.

rationalizer ra'tion·al·iz'er n.

View more Science videos

verb

1. To show to be just, right, or valid: excuse, justify, vindicate. Idioms: make a case for. See right/wrong.
2. To offer reasons for or a cause of: account for, explain, justify. See explain/baffle.

IN BRIEF: To give a seemingly reasonable explanation.

When the play was poorly attended, the producer tried to rationalize it by blaming the weather.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

For a list of words related to rationalize, see:

• Reasoning and Examination - rationalize: consider logically; invent plausible reasons for

---

See words rhyming with "rationalizer."

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - rationalisere, effektivisere, gøre logisk
v. intr. - optræde rationelt

Nederlands (Dutch)
rationaliseren, efficiënter maken (organisatie)

Français (French)
v. tr. - justifier, (GB, Écon) rationaliser
v. intr. - rationaliser, justifier

Deutsch (German)
v. - rationalisieren, rational begründen, vernünftig bewerten

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - οργανώνω ορθολογικά, εκφράζω λογικά, δίνω λογική εξήγηση

Italiano (Italian)
razionalizzare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - racionalizar

Русский (Russian)
обосновывать, рационализировать, оправдывать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - justificar, racionalizar, reorganizar
v. intr. - justificar, racionalizar, reorganizar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - rationalisera, resonera förståndsmässigt

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
使合理化, 使有理化, 为...找借口, 实行合理化, 作辩解

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 使合理化, 使有理化, 為...找藉口
v. intr. - 實行合理化, 作辯解

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 합리화 하다, 설명하다, (수를) 유리화하다
v. intr. - 합리적으로 생각하다, 합리적으로 행하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 論理的に考える, 合理化する, 正当化する, 能率化する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يعقلن, يسوغ, يبرر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮הסביר על דרך ההיגיון, ארגן מחדש, שכלן, ייעל‬
v. intr. - ‮הסביר את התנהגותו או דעתו בהיגיון, התנהג בהיגיון‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.