rational
Adjective:
- Based on or using reason and logic: Describes thoughts, decisions, or actions that are guided by clear, sensible thinking rather than emotion.
- Sane or reasonable: Describes a person who is thinking clearly and sensibly.
- (Mathematics) Expressible as a ratio of integers: Describes a number that can be written as a fraction where both the numerator and denominator are integers, and the denominator is not zero.
Noun:
- A rational number: In mathematics, a number that can be expressed as a quotient or fraction of two integers.
Adjective:
- In a crisis, it's important to make rational decisions. (Here, "rational" describes decisions based on logic.)
- After a good night's sleep, she felt more rational and could assess the problem calmly. (Here, "rational" describes a state of clear, sensible thinking.)
- The number 0.75 is a rational number because it can be written as 3/4. (Here, "rational" is a mathematical term.)
Noun:
- The set of rationals is denoted by the letter Q. (Here, "rationals" is a plural noun referring to rational numbers.)
"Perfectly rational": Completely logical and reasonable.
- His fear, though intense, was a perfectly rational response to the danger.
"Rational basis": A foundation in logic or reason.
- The policy must have a rational basis to be considered valid.
"Boundedly rational": A concept in economics describing decision-making that is intendedly rational but limited by available information and cognitive capacity.
- In the real world, consumers are often boundedly rational.
Rationality (n): The quality of being based on reason.
- The debate was praised for its high level of rationality.
Rationalize (v): To attempt to explain or justify behavior with logical reasons, even if these are not the true motives.
- He tried to rationalize his impulsive purchase.
Irrational (adj): The opposite of rational; not based on reason or logic.
- An irrational fear of spiders is called arachnophobia.
- Logical: Following the rules of formal logic.
- Reasonable: Having sound judgment; fair and sensible.
- Sensible: Showing good sense or judgment; practical.
- Coherent: Logical and consistent.
- Irrational: Not logical or reasonable.
- Emotional: Based on feelings rather than logic.
- Illogical: Lacking sense or sound reasoning.
"Rational actor": A term in social science for an individual who makes decisions to achieve optimal outcomes based on available information.
- The model assumes every consumer is a rational actor.
"Rational choice": A decision-making paradigm that selects the best option among alternatives based on calculated utility.
- Voting is often studied through the lens of rational choice theory.
- having its source in or being guided by the intellect (as distinguished from experience or emotion)
- a rational analysis
- capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers
- rational numbers
- of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
- intellectual problems
- the triumph of the rational over the animal side of man
- consistent with or based on or using reason
- rational behavior
- a process of rational inference
- rational thought
- an integer or a fraction