Definition of rationalization - WordReference.com Dictionary

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rationalization:

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Adapted From: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

rationalization
A	noun
	1	systematization, systematisation, rationalization, rationalisation
				systematic organization; the act of organizing something according to a system or a rationale
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚organization; organisation ╚systematization, systematisation, rationalization, rationalisation ╚formalization; formalisation ╚codification
	2	rationalization, rationalisation
				the organization of a business according to scientific principles of management in order to increase efficiency
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚group action ╚social control ╚management; direction ╚administration; disposal ╚organization; organisation ╚rationalization, rationalisation
	3	rationalization, rationalisation
				(mathematics) the simplification of an expression or equation by eliminating radicals without changing the value of the expression or the roots of the equation
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚action ╚change ╚change of integrity ╚separation ╚removal; remotion ╚elimination; riddance ╚simplification ╚rationalization, rationalisation
	4	rationalization, rationalisation
				the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚process; cognitive process; mental process; operation; cognitive operation ╚higher cognitive process ╚thinking; thought; cerebration; intellection; mentation ╚explanation ╚rationalization, rationalisation ╚raison d'etre
	5	rationalization, rationalisation
				(psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening
		Category Tree: phenomenon ╚process ╚human process ╚psychoanalytic process ╚defense mechanism; defense reaction; defence mechanism; defence reaction; defense; defence ╚rationalization, rationalisation

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