rationalizera‧tion‧al‧ize (also rationalise British English) /ˈræʃənəlaɪz/ AWL verb [intransitive, transitive] 
Verb Table Examples
When he fouls up, Glen always finds a way to rationalize what he’s done.2British English to make a business more effective by removing unnecessary workers, equipment etc: Our systems will be rationalized over the coming months.—rationalization /ˌræʃənəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ noun [countable, uncountable]: a major rationalization of the aircraft industry
Verb TableVERB TABLE
rationalize
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | rationalize |
| he, she, it | rationalizes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | rationalized |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have rationalized |
| he, she, it | has rationalized | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had rationalized |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will rationalize |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have rationalized |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am rationalizing |
| he, she, it | is rationalizing | |
| you, we, they | are rationalizing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was rationalizing |
| you, we, they | were rationalizing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been rationalizing |
| he, she, it | has been rationalizing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been rationalizing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be rationalizing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been rationalizing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Glen tries to rationalize his drinking by saying he deserves a beer after a hard day.
- Since the administrative side of the business has been rationalized, all departments have become more efficient.
- The budget proposed selling off $1,300 million worth of state-run enterprises and rationalizing the tax structure.
- The company has done a lot to rationalize production.
- The Social Security system needs to be rationalized.
- We are a small company, and we need to rationalize if we want to compete in this market.
- Abstract internationalism had a strong role to play in rationalizing much more sinister forces than appeared in the rhetoric of Petrograd.
- I was rationalizing that I had mainly young reps and so they needed me...
- It is still rationalized by an elaborate and traditional, even if meretricious, theory of consumer demand.
- Like Nietzsche, Feuerbach frequently shows more sympathy for orthodox believers than for rationalizing modernist theologians.
- Repeated attempts were made to rationalize the system.
- Whining is a form of rationalizing.
- You can try to rationalize your low weight loss.
Longman Language Activatorto make a business or system more efficient► improve/increase efficiency
Word family · We must increase efficiency and reduce costs if we are to make a profit this year.· The company has concentrated on encouraging worker involvement and improving efficiency.· Less complex business processes can reduce costs and improve efficiency and quality.
► streamline to make the processes of a business or system simpler so that it operates more quickly and more efficiently: · We have streamlined the whole business by introducing a new computer system.· People are calling for steps to reform the juvenile justice system, including streamlining the process of prosecuting young offenders.
► rationalize also rationalise British to make a business or system more efficient by making it quicker, more modern, and less wasteful: · Since the administrative side of the business has been rationalized, all departments have become more efficient.· The budget proposed selling off $1,300 million worth of state-run enterprises and rationalizing the tax structure.
when a company reduces its activities, the amount it spends etc► scale down also scale back American to reduce something, such as the size of an organization or a plan, so that it is still operating but on a smaller level: scale down/back something: · European central banks have scaled down their operations in South Africa.scale something down/back: · The two companies have announced plans to scale back production next year.· Development projects were scaled down, and some proposals for new buildings were put on hold.
► cut back to reduce the numbers of something or the time or money spent on something, especially because you can no longer afford to continue at the previous level: cut back on: · Her friends know that she is under stress and have warned her to cut back on her workload.cut back something: · Our budget has been cut back this year.· Farmers have agreed to cut back wheat production.cut something back: · We have had to cut expenditure back in an effort to increase profits.
► downsize/rightsize especially American to reduce the number of people who work for a company, especially in order to save money: · They are downsizing the workforce in a desperate attempt to save the firm.· Advised to rightsize its operation, the company has shrunk to 2,000 employees.
► pare down to reduce something by small amounts over a period of time so that the effect is not very serious or noticeable while it is happening: pare down something: · The company has pared down expenditure and hopes to recoup its losses this year.pare something down: · We have managed to pare our costs down to the absolute minimum.
► rationalize also rationalise British to try to make a company more effective by getting rid of unnecessary workers etc: · We are a small company, and we need to rationalize if we want to compete in this market.· The company has done a lot to rationalize production.
► wind down to gradually reduce the work of a company or organization so that it can be closed down completely: wind something down: · The old sickness benefit system is slowly being wound down.wind something down: · I want to return in a few years' time - I've already started to wind the business down.
► run down especially British to deliberately make something such as a company, an industry, or a public service weaker and weaker, by giving it less and less money: run down something: · Opposition leaders are accusing the government of running down the Health Service.run something down: · They buy up rival companies then just run them down.
► trim to reduce something by a small amount that will not harm or change it very much, especially in order to save money: · By trimming costs and improving service the hotel has now started to make a profit again.trim something by 10% etc: · The proposed bill would trim welfare spending by $5 billion.
► streamline to reduce the costs of something such as a service or industry by employing fewer people, reducing the number of things you produce or provide etc - used especially in business contexts: · The government is once again attempting to streamline the health care service in order to pay for tax cuts.· The company announced it was to streamline its operations and close down three factories in the UK.
WORD FAMILYnounrationality ≠ irrationalityrationalerationalismrationalistrationalizationadjectiverational ≠ irrationalrationalistverbrationalizeadverbrationally ≠ irrationally
1if you rationalize behaviour that is wrong, you invent an explanation for it so that it does not seem as bad: When he fouls up, Glen always finds a way to rationalize what he’s done.2British English to make a business more effective by removing unnecessary workers, equipment etc: Our systems will be rationalized over the coming months.—rationalization /ˌræʃənəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ -lə-/ noun [countable, uncountable]: a major rationalization of the aircraft industry