rationalization
/ˌræʃənəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/noun
rationalization is spelled R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L-I-Z-A-T-I-O-N: 15 letters and 6 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 41,154th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, rationalization means “A statement of one's motives, or of the causes of some event” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of rationalization is rationalizations.
How many letters and syllables are in rationalization?
| Letters | 15: R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L-I-Z-A-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 6 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 41,154th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is rationalization?
Rationalization appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 41,154th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce rationalization?
- UK /ˌræʃ(ə)n(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃn̩/
- US /ˌræʃənəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Rationalization has 6 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-rationalization.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with rationalization?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as rationalization from its last stressed vowel (/eɪʃən/):
- situation
- association
- population
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
- location
- generation
- foundation
- conversation
- investigation
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of rationalization
- rationalizations plural
- rationalisation
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does rationalization mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
archaicThe process or result of rationalizing, or expressing in rational terms.
Some rationalization of the language of his lectures is, of course, necessary.
- 2
A statement of one's motives, or of the causes of some event.
Her self-flagellating rationalization for the theft was mostly ignored by the jury.
- 3
The reorganization of a company or organization in order to improve its efficiency through the reallocation of resources and changes in its workforce.
It began with the familiar political motives of civil service rationalization and downsizing.
- 4
The concealment of true motivation in some non-threatening way.
- 5
The simplification of an expression without changing its value.
Here, the rationalization of the denominator was unnecessary.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Rationalization in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense process or result of rationalizing:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | rationalisation |
| German | Rationalisierung |
| Portuguese | racionalização |
| Spanish | racionalización |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does rationalization come from?
First attested in 1831. From French rationalisation, equivalent to rational + -ization or rationalize + -ation.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).