Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To make something more logical, efficient, or based on reason: To reorganize a process, system, or structure to eliminate waste or inefficiency, often using scientific or logical principles.
   • To justify one's behavior or attitudes with logical-sounding reasons, even if these are not the true motives: To attempt to explain or defend actions, feelings, or beliefs with plausible reasons, often to oneself, to make them seem reasonable or acceptable.
   • To eliminate irrational elements from a mathematical expression: To remove radicals (like square roots) from the denominator of a fraction.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To think or argue in a logical, reason-based manner: To employ rational thinking.

Usage and Examples

• Transitive Verb (Reorganize for efficiency):

  • The company needed to rationalize its supply chain to reduce costs.
  • They rationalized the manufacturing process, which increased output by 20%.

• Transitive Verb (Justify with plausible reasons):

  • He tried to rationalize eating the whole cake by saying he needed the energy.
  • She rationalized her impulsive purchase as an investment in her happiness.

• Transitive Verb (Mathematics):

  • To solve the equation, you must first rationalize the denominator.
  • The expression √2/2 is already rationalized.

• Intransitive Verb (Think rationally):

  • Instead of panicking, we need to stop and rationalize.
  • When faced with complex problems, it's important to rationalize carefully.

Advanced Usage

• Psychological Defense Mechanism: In psychology, "to rationalize" specifically refers to a defense mechanism where controversial behaviors or feelings are justified logically to avoid the true explanation.
  • After forgetting the anniversary, he rationalized his mistake by claiming he was focused on an important work project.

Variants and Related Words

• Rationalization (noun): The process or result of rationalizing.

  • The rationalization of the industry led to many job losses.
  • His explanation was a weak rationalization for his rude behavior.

• Rational (adjective): Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.

  • It was a rational decision based on the available data.

Synonyms

• Justify: To show or prove to be right or reasonable.
• Reorganize: To change the way in which something is organized or done.
• Explain away: To minimize the significance of something by explanation.
• Streamline: To make (an organization or system) more efficient and effective by employing faster or simpler working methods.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions

• Rationalize away: To dismiss or minimize something through rationalization.
  • He tried to rationalize away his feelings of guilt.

Related Idioms

• No idiom is directly and exclusively formed with the verb "rationalize." However, the concept is central to phrases like:
  • "A rationalization after the fact": An explanation invented to justify an action after it has occurred.

Verb

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