rationale (n.)

1650s, "exposition of principles," from Late Latin rationale, noun use of neuter of Latin rationalis "of reason" (see rational). Hence, "fundamental reason, the rational basis or motive of anything" (1680s).

Entries linking to rationale

rational (adj.)

late 14c., racional, "pertaining to or springing from reason;" mid-15c., of persons, "endowed with reason, having the power of reasoning," from Old French racionel and directly from Latin rationalis "of or belonging to reason, reasonable," from ratio (genitive rationis) "reckoning, calculation, reason" (see ratio).

In arithmetic, "expressible in finite terms," 1560s. Meaning "conformable to the precepts of practical reason" is from 1630s. Related: Rationally. It is from the same source as ratio and ration; the sense in rational is aligned with that in related reason (n.), which got deformed in French.

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Definitions of rationale

rationale (n.)

(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature);

the rationale for capital punishment

Synonyms: principle

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near rationale

ratio

ratiocinate

ratiocination

ration

rational

rationale

rationalise

rationalist

rationality

rationalization

rationalize