rational

noun

(mathematics) A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.

(historical) The breastplate worn by Israelite high priests.

adjective

Capable of reasoning.

Logically sound; not self-contradictory or otherwise absurd.

(of a person or personal characteristics) Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness.

(arithmetic) Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.

(mathematics, not comparable) Comprising, or expressible as, a ratio

(algebra) Of an algebraic expression in indeterminates, or more generally a function: capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.

(algebraic geometry) Of a variety: (informally) geometrically simple almost everywhere; (formally) birationally equivalent to projective space

(algebraic geometry) Of a function between varieties: acting as a morphism on an open subset of its domain.

(algebraic geometry) Of a point on an algebraic variety over a field: whose coordinates belong to the field in question (in contrast to those points of the variety which are only defined over the algebraic closure of the base field).

(chemistry, obsolete) synonymous replacement for "condensed" in condensed formula.

Roots

reorrat- · Latin · reckon, reason

Synonyms for rational

noeticadj logicaladj reasonableadj sensibleadj ratiocinativeadj reasoningn saneadj irrationaladj commonsenseadj intellectualadj

Synonyms & related words for rational

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Words related to rational

Explore words related to rational — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include antirational, rationalness, rationality, rationally, reasoned, nonlogical, unreasoned, commonsensical. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for rational

Common synonyms for rational include noetic, logical, reasonable, sensible, ratiocinative, reasoning, sane, irrational — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does rational come from?

The word rational breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root rat-, from Latin reor (“reckon, reason”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.