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reasonable Definition

rea·son·able (-ə bəl)

adjective

  1. able to reason
  2. amenable to reason; just
  3. using or showing reason, or sound judgment; sensible
    1. not extreme, immoderate, or excessive
    2. not expensive

Etymology: ME raisonable < OFr < L rationabilis

reasonable Related Forms

rea′·son·able·ness noun rea′·son·ably adverb

reasonable Synonyms

reasonable

modif.

  1. Amenable to reason

    rational, sensible, sane, level-headed, intelligent, common-sense, common-sensical, tolerant, endowed with reason, conscious, cerebral, capable of reason, thoughtful, reflective, percipient, reasoning, ratiocinative, cognitive, perceiving, consistent, broad-minded, liberal, generous, unprejudiced, unbiased, persuasible, malleable, flexible, agreeable; see also rational 1.

    Antonyms unreasonable, foolish, prejudiced.

  2. Showing reason or sound judgment

    fair, right, just, judicious, prudent, sound, wise, equitable, rational, moderate, temperate, within reason, impartial, sensible, humane, politic, sapient, discreet, analytical, objective, circumspect, making sense, standing to reason, common-sense; see also judicious, moderate 2.

    Antonyms excessive, immoderate*, extreme. *

  3. Likely to appeal to the reason

    feasible, sound, plausible, logical; see understandable.

  4. Moderate in price

    inexpensive, reduced, fair, worth the money; see cheap 1. See syn. study at rational.

reasonable Law Definition

adj

A standard for what is fair and appropriate under usual and ordinary circumstances; that which is according to reason; the way a rational and just person would have acted.

reasonable Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • adjustment: Reasonable adjustments should be made to enable a disabled worker to resume or continue working.
  • endeavor: The College will use all reasonable endeavors to deliver courses in accordance with the descriptions set out in the prospectus.
  • excuse: It is an offense, without reasonable excuse, not to comply with the terms of the Restoration Order.
  • precaution: All reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the spread of infectious or contagious diseases.
  • step: The employe must take all reasonable steps to attend the meeting.
  • doubt: Conclusion The ambition of the project must be to demonstrate, beyond reasonable doubt, the location of the battle.

Modifying Another Word

  • perfectly: This is perfectly reasonable; in principle then we can find primes quickly.
  • commercially: We will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly determine and remedy the problem.

Infinitive complement

  • assume: It seems reasonable to assume that the agent of BSE will not replicate in cell cultures either.
  • suppose: Suit: - Well then it's reasonable to suppose that you have a large garden then?
  • conclude: I do not believe it is reasonable to conclude that there is significant risk from eating beef.
  • expect: It is not reasonable to expect one or two people to be representative of all people who use similar services.
  • believe: It clearly is not scientific or reasonable to believe in the existence of God.
  • ask: It is reasonable to ask whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: It seems reasonable to include any quality schemes they use.
  • appear: It appears reasonable to TPAS that schemes should make some allowance for the fact that they are backdating contributions in some cases many years.
  • consider: There were many variations in the way this problem was tackled and in the amount of profit considered reasonable.
  • sound: Understood on your last comment - sounds reasonable to me.

Preposition: in

circumstance: Officers have the discretion to decide what is reasonable in the circumstances.

Preposition: for

employer: This duty is dependant on what it is reasonable for the employer to do in the circumstances.