rational

ra·tion·al

adjective

The definition of rational is something that makes sense or that could be based in fact or someone who behaves and thinks logically.

An example of rational is the provable idea of gravity.
An example of rational is a person who apologizes after an argument when he knows he was at fault.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"rational." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL>.

APA Style

rational. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL

rational

of, based on, or derived from reasoning: rational powers
able to reason; reasoning; in possession of one's reason or sanity
showing reason; not foolish or silly; sensible: a rational argument
Math.
1. designating or of a real number or quantity expressible as the ratio of two integers, with the second integer not being equal to zero: all integers and fractions are rational numbers
2. designating a function expressible as the quotient of two polynomials

Origin of rational

Middle English racional from Classical Latin rationalis from ratio: see reason

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"rational." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL>.

APA Style

rational. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL

rational

adjective

Having or exercising the ability to reason. See Synonyms at logical.
Consistent with or based on reason or good judgment; logical or sensible: rational decisions.
Of sound mind; sane: wondered if the eccentric neighbor was not completely rational.
Mathematics Capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers.

noun

Mathematics

A rational number.

Origin of rational

Middle English racional from Old French racionel from Latin ratiōnālis from ratiō ratiōn- reason ; see reason .

Related Forms:

ra′tion·al·ly
adverb

ra′tion·al·ness
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"rational." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL>.

APA Style

rational. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL

Adjective

(comparative more rational, superlative most rational)

Capable of reasoning.
Man is a rational creature.
Logically sound; not contradictory or otherwise absurd.
His statements were quite rational.
(of a person or personal characteristics) Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness.
rational conduct
(mathematics, arithmetic, number theory, not comparable) Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.
is a rational number, but âˆš2 is an irrational number.
(mathematics, arithmetic, not comparable) Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.
(chemistry) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; said of formulae.

Related terms

terms etymologically related to rational

Origin

From Old French rationel, rational, from Latin rationalis (“of or belonging to reason, rational, reasonable"), from ratio (“reason")

Noun

(plural rationals)

(mathematics) A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.
The quotient of two rationals is again a rational.
A rational being.

Origin

From Old French rational, from Medieval Latin rationale (“a pontifical stole, a pallium, an ornament worn over the chasuble"), neuter of Latin rationalis (“rational"), for which see the first etymology.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"rational." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL>.

APA Style

rational. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL

rational - Medical Definition

adj.

Having or exercising the ability to reason.
Consistent with or based on reason or good judgment; logical or sensible: rational decisions.

Related Forms:

ra′tion·al·ly
adv.

ra′tion·al·ness
n.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"rational." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL>.

APA Style

rational. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/RATIONAL

Synonyms

SentencesSentence examples

rational

rational

rational

rational - Medical Definition

Sentence Examples

Also Mentioned In

Words near rational in the dictionary

rational

rational

rational

rational - Medical Definition

Sentence Examples

Also Mentioned In

Words near rational in the dictionary

Join YourDictionary today