RATIONALITY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does rationality mean? 

• RATIONALITY (noun)
  The noun RATIONALITY has 2 senses:

1. the state of having good sense and sound judgment

2. the quality of being consistent with or based on logic

  Familiarity information: RATIONALITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RATIONALITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The state of having good sense and sound judgment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

rationality; reason; reasonableness

Context example:

he had to rely less on reason than on rousing their emotions

Hypernyms ("rationality" is a kind of...):

saneness; sanity (normal or sound powers of mind)

Derivation:

rational (consistent with or based on or using reason)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality of being consistent with or based on logic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

rationality; rationalness

Hypernyms ("rationality" is a kind of...):

logicality; logicalness (correct and valid reasoning)

Derivation:

rational (having its source in or being guided by the intellect (as distinguished from experience or emotion))

rational (of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind)

 Context examples 

It did not accord with the rationality of plan, the moderation in expense, or even the unselfish warmth of heart, which she had believed herself to discern in him yesterday.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Charles Musgrove was civil and agreeable; in sense and temper he was undoubtedly superior to his wife, but not of powers, or conversation, or grace, to make the past, as they were connected together, at all a dangerous contemplation; though, at the same time, Anne could believe, with Lady Russell, that a more equal match might have greatly improved him; and that a woman of real understanding might have given more consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and elegance to his habits and pursuits.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

To be a second time disappointed in the same way was an instance of very severe ill-luck; and his indignation was such, that had it not been for delicacy towards his friend, and his friend's youngest sister, he believed he should certainly attack the baronet on the absurdity of his proceedings, and argue him into a little more rationality.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)