ra
tio
na
li
za
tion
1
the mental process of explaining actions or beliefs as reasonable
- He engaged in rationalization to convince himself that skipping the meeting was justified.
- She practiced rationalization to make sense of her impulsive purchase.
- Politicians often rely on rationalization when defending unpopular decisions.
- His rationalization of procrastinating helped him feel less guilty.
- Through rationalization, people explain their mistakes in a way that feels logical to them.
2
the systematic organization of something according to a plan or logical system
- The rationalization of the library catalog made it easier to find books.
- Rationalization of the workflow reduced confusion in the office.
- The engineer proposed a rationalization of the production process.
- Rationalization of household tasks improved efficiency.
- The teacher suggested a rationalization of the syllabus for clarity.
Synonyms:
3
(in mathematics) the process of simplifying an expression by eliminating radicals or irrational denominators without changing its value
- The teacher demonstrated rationalization with several examples.
- The student performed rationalization to simplify the algebraic expression.
- Rationalization can clarify solutions to complex equations.
- She used rationalization to remove the square root from the denominator.
- Rationalization preserves the value while changing the form of the expression.
4
the organization of a company using scientific management principles to improve efficiency
- The company undertook rationalization to reduce waste and cut costs.
- The factory's rationalization plan included mechanization.
- Management rationalization involved reallocating staff roles.
- Rationalization of processes led to faster product delivery.
- Rationalization helped the firm remain competitive in the market.
5
(psychiatry) the process by which individuals justify or explain their behaviors, often unconsciously, in a way that aligns with their self-image or societal norms
- Rationalization helps people feel better about their decisions.
- She used rationalization to justify her procrastination.
- Rationalization often distorts reality to fit personal beliefs.
- He employed rationalization to explain away his mistakes.
- People sometimes resort to rationalization to avoid responsibility.