| Noun | 1. | rationalization - the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reasonexplanation - thought that makes something comprehensible | |
| 2. | rationalization - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening | |
| 3. | rationalization - (mathematics) the simplification of an expression or equation by eliminating radicals without changing the value of the expression or the roots of the equationmath, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement | |
| 4. | rationalization - the organization of a business according to scientific principles of management in order to increase efficiencyorganisation, organization - the act of organizing a business or business-related activity; "he was brought in to supervise the organization of a new department" | |
| 5. | rationalization - systematic organization; the act of organizing something according to a system or a rationaleorganisation, organization - the activity or result of distributing or disposing persons or things properly or methodically; "his organization of the work force was very efficient" codification - the act of codifying; arranging is a systematic order | |