rationalisation

A noun referring to the process of explaining or justifying actions, beliefs, or decisions in a seemingly logical or rational manner, often to conceal true motivations or to make something appear consistent with reason. It can also refer to the systematic organization of a business or process to increase efficiency, or the simplification of an expression in mathematics.

• 🇪🇸Sustantivo que denota el proceso de explicar o justificar acciones, creencias o decisiones de manera que parezcan lógicas o racionales, a menudo para ocultar los verdaderos motivos o para dar apariencia de razonabilidad. También puede referirse a la reorganización sistemática de un negocio o proceso para aumentar la eficiencia, o a la simplificación de una expresión en matemáticas.

1. Psychological justification C1 formal medical

   A mental process where a person explains their actions or feelings in a seemingly logical way to avoid facing the true, often uncomfortable, reasons behind them.

   • His rationalisation for missing the meeting was that he was too busy, but really he just didn't want to go.
   • She used rationalisation to convince herself that her harsh words were for his own good.
   • The therapist helped him see through his own rationalisations.

   🇪🇸Racionalización (psicológica)

   Sinónimos: defense mechanismexcuseintellectualizationjustificationrationalizationself-justification

2. Making something seem reasonable B2 formal

   The act of creating a logical explanation to make an action, decision, or belief appear consistent with reason, even if it is not.

   • The company's rationalisation for the layoffs was based on market trends.
   • His rationalisation of the policy change failed to convince the critics.
   • The process of rationalisation often involves simplifying complex issues.

   🇪🇸Racionalización

   Sinónimos: defenseexcuseexplanationjustificationrationalizationvindication

3. Mathematical simplification C1 formal scientific

   The process of simplifying an expression or equation by removing radicals (like square roots) from the denominator, without changing its value.

   • The rationalisation of the fraction 1/√2 results in √2/2.
   • Students learn rationalisation to simplify complex algebraic expressions.
   • The mathematician performed a rationalisation to solve the equation.

   🇪🇸Racionalización (matemática)

4. Business efficiency C1 formal business

   The reorganization of a business or industry to make it more efficient, often by applying scientific management principles.

   • The rationalisation of the factory led to increased productivity.
   • The company underwent a major rationalisation to cut costs.
   • Rationalisation in the industry resulted in many job losses.

   🇪🇸Racionalización empresarial

   Sinónimos: consolidationmodernizationreorganization

   Antónimos: disorganizationinefficiencywaste

5. Systematic organization B2 formal

   The act of organizing something according to a logical system or rationale.

   • The rationalisation of the filing system made documents easier to find.
   • The government called for a rationalisation of the tax code.
   • The library's rationalisation of its catalog was a huge project.

   🇪🇸racionalización

   Sinónimos: arrangementorderingorganizationsystematization

   Antónimos: chaosconfusiondisorderdisorganization

• rationalisations plural form
• rationalisations' possessive plural form
• rationalisation's possessive singular form