Rational: meaning, definitions and examples

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rational

 

[ หˆrรฆสƒ.ษ™n.ษ™l ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

logical thinking

Based on or in accordance with reason or logic; sensible, reasonable.

Synonyms

logical, practical, reasonable, sensible.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rational

Suitable when making decisions or forming opinions based on clear, objective reasoning without emotional influence.

  • His argument was rational, grounded in clear evidence.
logical

Used when describing a thought process or a series of actions that follow clear, predictable steps, often in a formal or structured manner.

  • The engineer's plan was highly logical, ensuring each step followed naturally from the last.
reasonable

Used to describe an opinion or action that is fair, moderate, or appropriate, often implying a balance between being too strict or too lenient.

  • The teacher's expectations are very reasonable, giving students enough time to complete their work.
sensible

Ideal for situations where decisions or actions are guided by common sense, often implying wisdom and prudence.

  • Choosing to stay indoors during the storm was a sensible decision.
practical

Appropriate for situations where the focus is on feasible and effective methods that can be easily implemented in real-life scenarios.

  • Let's come up with a practical solution that we can implement immediately.

Examples of usage

  • He made a rational decision to invest in the stock market.
  • She provided a rational explanation for her actions.
  • It's important to approach this problem in a rational manner.
  • Rational thinking is essential in solving complex issues.
  • I appreciate your rational approach to this situation.
Context #2 | Noun

mathematics

A number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction p/q of two integers, where q is not zero.

Synonyms

fractional, numeric, quotient.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rational

Use 'rational' when referring to a number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction of two integers. It's common in mathematics and real-life scenarios requiring logical reasoning.

  • The student solved the equation using rational numbers.
  • In mathematics, every integer is also a rational number.
fractional

The term 'fractional' is appropriate when discussing parts of a whole, particularly in scenarios involving fractions or division into smaller parts.

  • He owns a fractional share of the company.
  • The project requires a fractional amount of the budget.
numeric

Use 'numeric' when you want to emphasize that something is a number or related to numbers, especially in technical or mathematical contexts.

  • Please enter your numeric password.
  • The data set includes both numeric and categorical values.
quotient

'Quotient' is best used when referring to the result of division between two numbers. It's highly specific to mathematical and statistical contexts.

  • The quotient of 10 divided by 2 is 5.
  • In the expression 15 รท 3, 5 is the quotient.

Examples of usage

  • 2/3 is a rational number.
  • 5 is a rational number because it can be written as 5/1.
  • Rational numbers can be positive, negative, or zero.
  • In mathematics, rational numbers are fundamental to many calculations.

Translations

Translations of the word "rational" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น racional

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคคเคพเคฐเฅเค•เคฟเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช rational

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ rasional

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั€ะฐั†ั–ะพะฝะฐะปัŒะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ racjonalny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅˆ็†็š„ใช

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท rationnel

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ racional

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท rasyonel

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ•ฉ๋ฆฌ์ ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนู‚ู„ุงู†ูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ racionรกlnรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ racionรกlny

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็†ๆ€ง็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ racionalen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ skynsamur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั€ะฐั†ะธะพะฝะฐะปะดั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ แƒแƒชแƒ˜แƒแƒœแƒแƒšแƒฃแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ rasional

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ racional

Etymology

The word 'rational' originated from the Latin word 'rationalis', meaning 'endowed with reason'. It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe things that are based on logic or reason. The concept of rationality has been a fundamental aspect of philosophy, mathematics, and everyday decision-making processes.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,286, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.