Definition of rationalist in English:
rationalist
noun ˈraʃ(ə)n(ə)lɪstˈræʃ(ə)n(ə)ləst
1A person who bases their opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.
the managers are rationalists who find it hard to understand why anyone should get worked up about the closure of their local hospital
a rationalist with a boyish enthusiasm for modern science
Example sentencesExamples
- The family members are down to earth rationalists confronting everyday contingencies.
- 1.1Philosophy A person who believes that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in knowledge.
like other rationalists, he valorizes the mind over the body
- 1.2Theology A person who considers reason to be the ultimate authority in religion.
the dispassionate sensibility of Protestant rationalists
adjective ˈraʃ(ə)n(ə)lɪstˈræʃ(ə)n(ə)ləst
1Based on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.
a rationalist approach to the supernatural
- 1.1Philosophy Relating to the theory that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in knowledge.
Harvard College had become a seat of rationalist philosophy
- 1.2Theology Relating to the practice of treating reason as the ultimate authority in religion.
Toland's unrelentingly rationalist approach to theology went well beyond anything Locke advocated
Derivatives
adjective raʃ(ə)n(ə)ˈlɪstɪkˌræʃ(ə)n(ə)lˈɪstɪk
Her husband is a cold, rationalistic technocrat.
adverbraʃ(ə)n(ə)ˈlɪstɪk(ə)liˌræʃ(ə)n(ə)lˈɪstək(ə)li
Rhymes
internationalist, nationalist
Definition of rationalist in US English:
rationalist
nounˈræʃ(ə)n(ə)ləstˈraSH(ə)n(ə)ləst
1A person who bases their opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.
the managers are rationalists who find it hard to understand why anyone should get worked up about the closure of their local hospital
a rationalist with a boyish enthusiasm for modern science
Example sentencesExamples
- The family members are down to earth rationalists confronting everyday contingencies.
- 1.1Philosophy A person who believes that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in knowledge.
like other rationalists, he valorizes the mind over the body
- 1.2Theology A person who considers reason to be the ultimate authority in religion.
the dispassionate sensibility of Protestant rationalists
adjectiveˈræʃ(ə)n(ə)ləstˈraSH(ə)n(ə)ləst
1Based on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.
a rationalist approach to the supernatural
- 1.1Philosophy Relating to the theory that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in knowledge.
Harvard College had become a seat of rationalist philosophy
- 1.2Theology Relating to the practice of treating reason as the ultimate authority in religion.
Toland's unrelentingly rationalist approach to theology went well beyond anything Locke advocated