rationalise

Definition

Verb (Transitive):
- To make something more logical, efficient, or consistent by applying reason or a systematic method. This often involves reorganizing to remove waste or redundancy.
- To attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical reasons, even if these are not the true motives.
- In mathematics, to eliminate irrational numbers (such as square roots) from the denominator of a fraction.
Verb (Intransitive):
- To think or argue in a logical, reason-based manner.

Usage and Examples

To make efficient/systematic:
- The company rationalised its supply chain to reduce costs.
- We need to rationalise the number of product lines we offer.
To justify with plausible reasons:
- He rationalised his excessive spending by calling it an investment.
- She tried to rationalise her rude comment, saying she was just tired.
In Mathematics:
- The students learned how to rationalise the denominator of the expression 1/√2.
To think logically (intransitive):
- Instead of panicking, we must stop and rationalise.

Advanced Usage

Psychological Defence Mechanism: In psychology, "to rationalise" specifically refers to a defence mechanism where controversial behaviors or feelings are justified and explained in a seemingly rational or logical manner to avoid the true explanation.
- After forgetting his friend's birthday, he rationalised it by claiming he disapproved of commercial celebrations.

Variants and Related Words

Rationalisation (Noun): The action or process of rationalising.
- The rationalisation of the manufacturing process led to job losses.
- His story was a weak rationalisation for being late.
Rational (Adjective): Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
Rationality (Noun): The quality of being based on reason.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

To rationalise away: To dismiss or minimize (a problem, doubt, or feeling) by explaining it away with logic.
- He rationalised away his guilt by focusing on the positive outcome.

Verb

weed out unwanted or unnecessary things
- We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet
remove irrational quantities from
- This function can be rationalized
think rationally; employ logic or reason
- When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
- rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior
- he rationalized his lack of success
structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results
- We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits

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