SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
rationale
noun
The underlying reasoning for a decision or belief.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Underlying reasoning
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA rationale explains why a decision or belief makes sense. Motivation identifies what drives someone and may differ from the stated rationale.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See rationale in use
The proposal explained the rationale for moving the entrance.
A student committee proposed moving its exhibition to a smaller room on the premise that less wall space would reduce preparation time. The rationale sounded practical, since the volunteers had only one afternoon to install the work.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license