# rationalism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹæʃ(ə)nəlɪzəm/ · frequency rank #47,287

## Definitions
1. The theory that reason is a source of knowledge independent of and superior to sense perception.
2. The theory that knowledge may be derived by deductions from a priori concepts (such as axioms, postulates or earlier deductions).
3. A view that the fundamental method for problem solving is through reason and experience rather than faith, inspiration, revelation, intuition or authority.
4. Elaboration of theories by use of reason alone without appeal to experience, such as in mathematical systems.

## Etymology
From rational + -ism.

## Easily confused with
- **rationality** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rationalism-vs-rationality)
- **rationalize** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rationalism-vs-rationalize)
- **rationalist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rationalism-vs-rationalist)

## Common misspellings (16)
`artionalism`, `raitonalism`, `ratinoalism`, `ratioanlism`, `rationailsm`, `rationalims`, `rationalismm`, `rationalissm`, `rationallism`, `rationalsim`, `rationlaism`, `rationnalism`, `ratoinalism`, `rattionalism`, `rrationalism`, `rtaionalism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rationalism