Alternative forms

• rationalise (non-Oxford British English)

Etymology

From FrenchCategory:English terms derived from French#RATIONALIZE rationaliserCategory:English undefined derivations#RATIONALIZE. By surface analysis, rational +‎ -izeCategory:English terms suffixed with -ize#RATIONALIZE.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɹæʃənəlaɪz/Category:English 4-syllable words#RATIONALIZECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#RATIONALIZE

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#RATIONALIZE

Verb

rationalize (third-person singular simple present rationalizes, present participle rationalizing, simple past and past participle rationalized)Category:English lemmas#RATIONALIZECategory:English verbs#RATIONALIZECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#RATIONALIZECategory:Pages with entries#RATIONALIZECategory:Pages with 2 entries#RATIONALIZE (American spellingCategory:American English forms#RATIONALIZE, Oxford British EnglishCategory:Oxford spellings#RATIONALIZE)

1. To make something rational or more rational.
3. To justify a discreditable act, or irrational behaviour.
   • 1987, “Exhuming McCarthy”, in Document (R.E.M. No. 5), performed by R.E.M.:

     Vested interest, united ties, / landed gentry, rationalize. / Look who bought the myth. / By jingo, buy America.

     Category:English terms with quotations#RATIONALIZE

4. (mathematicsCategory:en:Mathematics#RATIONALIZE) To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation.
5. 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.
   • 2024 11, Sally Jane Gellert, “Report from the Chair”, in Lackawanna Coalition Railgram:

     At our October meeting, Membership Director George Kaufer suggested rationalizing schedules on the Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton trains. He had prepared peak-hour schedules with a focus on ensuring that trains to Hoboken alternate more equally with those to New York, rather than having a number of trains to one destination together before a train to the other city.

     Category:English terms with quotations#RATIONALIZE

Anagrams

• erizational, realization

Pronunciation

• Homophones: rationalisent, rationalisesCategory:French terms with homophones#RATIONALIZE

Verb

rationalizeCategory:French non-lemma forms#RATIONALIZECategory:French verb forms#RATIONALIZECategory:French entries with incorrect language header#RATIONALIZECategory:Pages with entries#RATIONALIZECategory:Pages with 2 entries#RATIONALIZE

1. inflection of rationaliser:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative