rationale
nounOPAL W
/ˌræʃəˈnɑːl/
/ˌræʃəˈnæl/
(formal)- rationale (behind/for/of something) the principles or reasons which explain a particular decision, course of action, belief, etc. synonym reason
- What is the rationale behind these new exams?
Word Originmid 17th cent.: modern Latin, neuter (used as a noun) of Latin rationalis ‘endowed with reason’, from ratio(n-) ‘reckoning, reason’, from rat- ‘reckoned’, from the verb reri.