Definition of "rationalize" []

• To make rational. (verb-transitive)
• To interpret from a rational standpoint. (verb-transitive)
• To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one's behavior): "Many shoppers still rationalize luxury purchases as investments” ( Janice Castro). (verb-transitive)
• Mathematics To remove radicals, such as from a denominator, without changing the value of (an expression) or roots of (an equation). (verb-transitive)
• Chiefly British To bring modern, efficient methods to (an industry, for example). (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "She had what she believed to be a good reason for revenge, and her villainous side was superbly played! on 26 May 2009 at 12: 25 pm thea the best villians are the high functioning ones, because they ‘seem’ so normal, and their ability to rationalize is quite scary. on 26 May 2009 at 12: 31 pm Karin Tabke"
• "- Emerging markets to "rationalize" - we've beaten the China drum to death but there are others out there."
• "It has been said that to rationalize is to tell rational lies, and we have been doing a lot of rationalizing capitalism over the past 5-10 years."