Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Alternative spelling of rationalize.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb weed out unwanted or unnecessary things
  • verb structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results
  • verb remove irrational quantities from
  • verb defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
  • verb think rationally; employ logic or reason

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Dated 1800 CE; rational +‎ -ise.

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Examples

  • I mean, there are works which use real science rather than handwaving, works in which the handwaving is indistinguishable from hokum, works which treat hokum as if it were real science, and works which don't actually "rationalise" at all.

    The Great Debate Hal Duncan 2005

  • The government had made no decision to reduce the number of provinces or to "rationalise" them, President Thabo Mbeki told

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2007

  • Farmers would have to "rationalise" their labour force even further if labour costs increased.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1999

  • Despite this politicians "in their wisdom" decided to stop all police recruiting and to close down all the colleges with the exception of one "because of a lack of funds and to 'rationalise' training".

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • In its predictions for 2011, King Sturge, the property agent, says rising rents in prime city and shopping centres could cause retailers to "rationalise".

    Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

  • Rivals Unilever recenly announced it is to axe its Persil washing up liquid brand as part of a drive to "rationalise" its product range.

    mad.co.uk : Today's Breaking News 2010

  • Air France says the 538-seat aircraft allows it to "rationalise" frequencies, replacing two flights departing within a short time with a single service.

    HEADLINES 2010

  • Air France says the 538-seat aircraft allows it to "rationalise" frequencies, replacing two flights departing within a short time with a single service.

    HEADLINES 2010

  • March 25th, 2010 PANAJI - After hiking the entry fee in both land-based and offshore casinos from Rs. 200 to Rs. 2,000 in the last budget, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Thursday sought to "rationalise" the fee structure by slashing the cost of entering land-based casinos to Rs. 500.

    Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7 Ians 2010

  • This was ostensibly done to 'rationalise' the storage infrastructure but, in reality, is a classic example of poor planning.

    Hindustan Times News Feeds 'Views' 2010

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