rational
1ra·tio·nal
adj \ˈrash-nəl, ˈra-shə-nəl\Definition of RATIONAL
1
a : having reason or understanding b : relating to, based on, or agreeable to reason : reasonable <a rational explanation> <rational behavior>
2
: involving only multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction and only a finite number of times
3
: relating to, consisting of, or being one or more rational numbers <a rational root of an equation>
— ra·tio·nal·ly adverb
— ra·tio·nal·ness noun
See Examples of RATIONAL
- <human beings are rational creatures>
- <insisted there was a rational explanation for the strange creaking noises and that there were no such things as ghosts>
Origin of RATIONAL
Middle English racional, from Anglo-French racionel, from Latin rationalis, from ration-, ratio
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to RATIONAL
Antonyms: irrational, nonrational, nonthinking, unintelligent, unreasonable, unreasoning, unthinking
Related Words: analytic (or analytical), logical; brainy, cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual; cognitional, cognitive, mental; levelheaded, practical, sane, sensible, sober
Near Antonyms: brainless, dense, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, fatuous, half-witted, mindless, obtuse, senseless, slow, stupid, thickheaded; fallacious, groundless, illogical, invalid, nonsensical
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