rationalization

noun/ˌræʃənələˈzeɪʃən/

Frequency rank: #17,004 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)

Meaning

the act of constructing a logical-sounding excuse to justify behavior or decisions, often hiding the real reason.

Illustration for the English word “rationalization”

Example sentence

His explanation for arriving late seemed like a convenient rationalization rather than the truth.

Synonyms & related words

More words in ranks 17,001–17,100