Definition

1. Noun:

   • The process of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way in order to form a conclusion or judgment.
   • The set of reasons or arguments used to explain something or to persuade someone.

2. Adjective:

   • Using logic or good sense to think about something; characterized by the ability to think logically.

Usage

• As a Noun: Used to refer to the mental process or the product of logical thinking.
  • Her reasoning was sound and easy to follow.
  • I don't understand the reasoning behind this decision.
• As an Adjective: Used to describe a person or process that uses logic.
  • Humans are reasoning beings.
  • We need a more reasoning approach to solve this.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The detective's reasoning led him to the correct suspect.
  • Your emotional reaction is clouding your reasoning.
• Adjective:
  • The student showed a highly reasoning mind during the debate.
  • A reasoning individual will question illogical statements.

Advanced Usage

• Deductive reasoning: The process of reasoning from one or more general statements (premises) to reach a logically certain conclusion.
  • Using deductive reasoning, if all men are mortal and Socrates is a man, then Socrates must be mortal.
• Inductive reasoning: The process of making generalizations based on specific observations.
  • Her inductive reasoning suggested that all swans were white, until she saw a black one.
• "There is no reasoning with someone": An idiom meaning it is impossible to have a logical discussion with a particular person because they are being unreasonable.
  • When he gets that angry, there's no reasoning with him.

Variants and Related Words

• Reason (verb/noun): To think logically; the cause or explanation for an action.
• Reasoned (adjective): Logical and carefully considered.
  • She presented a well-reasoned argument.
• Reasoner (noun): A person who reasons or argues logically.

Synonyms

• Noun: Logic, rationale, thinking, deduction, analysis.
• Adjective: Logical, rational, analytical, thinking.

Antonyms

• Noun: Irrationality, illogic, nonsense.
• Adjective: Irrational, illogical, unreasonable.

Related Phrases

• Line of reasoning: The connected series of reasons used to support an argument.
  • His entire line of reasoning was flawed from the first premise.
• Circular reasoning: A logical fallacy where the conclusion is included in the premise.
  • Saying "the book is true because it says so in the book" is circular reasoning.

Adjective

1. endowed with the capacity to reason

Noun

1. thinking that is coherent and logical