# rationalization

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌræʃ(ə)n(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃn̩/ · frequency rank #41,332

## Definitions
1. The process or result of rationalizing, or expressing in rational terms.
2. A statement of one's motives, or of the causes of some event.
3. The reorganization of a company or organization in order to improve its efficiency through the reallocation of resources and changes in its workforce.
4. The concealment of true motivation in some non-threatening way.
5. The simplification of an expression without changing its value.

## Etymology
First attested in 1831. From French rationalisation, equivalent to rational + -ization or rationalize + -ation.

## Common misspellings (22)
`artionalization`, `raitonalization`, `ratinoalization`, `ratioanlization`, `rationailzation`, `rationaliaztion`, `rationalizaiton`, `rationalizasion`, `rationalizatino`, `rationalizationn`, `rationalizatoin`, `rationalizattion`, `rationaliztaion`, `rationalizzation`, `rationallization`, `rationalziation`, `rationlaization`, `rationnalization`, `ratoinalization`, `rattionalization`, `rrationalization`, `rtaionalization`

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