rationalise

A verb used to explain or justify a decision, action, or belief with logical reasons, often to make it seem more acceptable; also used in business to mean reorganizing to improve efficiency.

• 🇩🇪Verb, das verwendet wird, um eine Entscheidung, Handlung oder Überzeugung mit logischen Gründen zu erklären oder zu rechtfertigen, oft um sie akzeptabler zu machen; im Geschäftsbereich auch für eine Reorganisation zur Effizienzsteigerung.

1. Organize efficiently B2 formal british business

   To reorganize a system, process, or business to make it more efficient and logical, often by cutting costs or staff.

   • The company decided to rationalise its production line to reduce waste.
   • The government is planning to rationalise the healthcare system.
   • They had to rationalise their workforce to stay competitive.

   🇩🇪Rationalisieren

   Synonyme: consolidatemodernizeoptimizerestructuresimplifystreamlinesystematize

   Antonyme: complicatedisorganizemismanagewaste

2. Justify with reasons B2 formal

   To attempt to explain or justify a behavior, action, or attitude with logical reasons, often to make it seem acceptable.

   • He tried to rationalise his rude behavior by blaming his stress.
   • She rationalised her decision to quit by saying the job was too demanding.
   • People often rationalise their spending habits to avoid guilt.

   🇩🇪Rationalisieren

   Synonyme: account fordefendexcuseexplainjustifyvindicatewarrant

3. Think logically C1 formal

   To think in a logical and sensible way, using reason rather than emotion.

   • In a crisis, it's important to rationalise rather than panic.
   • He took a moment to rationalise the situation before acting.
   • She taught her students to rationalise their arguments clearly.

   🇩🇪Rational denken

   Synonyme: analyzededucereason

   Antonyme: feel

4. Remove irrational numbers C2 formal scientific

   In mathematics, to eliminate irrational numbers from an expression, typically by multiplying by a conjugate.

   • The student learned how to rationalise the denominator of a fraction.
   • To simplify the equation, you need to rationalise the square root term.
   • Rationalising the expression made it easier to solve.

   🇩🇪Rationalmachen

5. Remove unnecessary elements B2 formal business

   To eliminate superfluous or unwanted parts from a system, collection, or process.

   • The library decided to rationalise its collection by removing outdated books.
   • We need to rationalise our inventory to free up storage space.
   • The committee voted to rationalise the list of approved suppliers.

   🇩🇪Rationalisieren

   Synonyme: consolidatecutdownsizeprunereducesimplifystreamlinetrim

   Antonyme: complicateexpandextend

• rationalised past participle
• rationalised past simple
• rationalising present participle
• rationalises third person singular

Phrasal-Varianten: rationalise away