ra ‧ tion ‧ al AC /ˈræʃ ə nəl/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rationality ≠ ↑ irrationality , ↑ rationale , ↑ rationalism , ↑ rationalist , ↑ rationalization ; adjective : ↑ rational ≠ ↑ irrational , ↑ rationalist ; verb : ↑ rationalize ; adverb : ↑ rationally ≠ ↑ irrationally ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: rationalis , from ratio ; ⇨ ↑ ratio ]
1 . rational thoughts, decisions etc are based on reasons rather than emotions OPP irrational :
Parents need to be fully informed so they can make a rational decision.
I’m sure there’s a rational explanation for all this.
It’s impossible to have a rational conversation with him.
2 . a rational person is able to think calmly and sensibly OPP irrational :
Culley was quite rational at the time of her baby’s death.
3 . formal able to make sensible judgments:
Man is a rational animal.
—rationally adverb :
We were too shocked to think rationally.
—rationality /ˌræʃəˈnæləlti, ˌræʃəˈnælɪlti/ noun [uncountable]
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ a rational explanation
I told myself that there must be some simple, rational explanation.
▪ a rational decision/choice
The patient was incapable of making a rational decision.
▪ a rational approach
We must adopt a rational approach when dealing with this problem.
▪ a rational analysis
Emotions are running so high that any rational analysis of the situation is difficult.
▪ rational thought
Babies were thought to be incapable of rational thought.
▪ rational argument
Nuclear weapons are so absurd that rational argument about their use is scarcely possible.
▪ a rational conversation/discussion
Let's all calm down and have a rational discussion.
■ adverbs
▪ perfectly rational
I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation.