Rationale
/ˌræʃ.əˈnæl/noun
A set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or belief.
Did you know?The roots of 'rationale' connect to the Latin word for 'reason', which was often associated with divine logic in ancient philosophical texts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reǵ-
“to rule or to guide, implying a sense of order.”
Latin
Latin
rationalis
“pertaining to reason, often tied to the divine order of the universe.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
rationale
“the underlying reason or explanation.”
Middle French
Old French
rational
“of the nature of reason, emphasizing logic and thought.”
Modern English
English
rationale
“a formal explanation of reasoning behind decisions or beliefs.”