Everyday · Arguing & persuading · Work & business
Rationale: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Rationale noun. The set of reasons behind a decision or belief.
How to say it
rash-uh-NAHL/ˌraʃəˈnɑːl/ · American /ˌræʃəˈnæl/
3 syllables, stressed on the third (NAHL).
Rationale in a sentence
Nobody could explain the rationale for moving the meeting to 7 a.m.
The rationale behind the four-day week was fewer burnt-out staff.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- reasoning
- grounds
- justification
- logic
Where rationale comes from
From Latin rationalis, reasonable, its neuter form used as a noun.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The _____ behind the four-day week was fewer burnt-out staff.
- rationale
- bombast
- fallacy
Show the answer
rationale: The rationale behind the four-day week was fewer burnt-out staff.