To justify an immoral act, or illogical behaviour. “The process of thought by which one justifies a discreditable act, and by which one offers to oneself and the world a better motive for one's action than the true motive”1949 , Funk, Wilfred; Lewis, Norman, “4 - Words for Mature Minds”, in 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary, New York: Washington Square Press, page p.29:
structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits
ra·tion·al·ize rationalizes rationalizing rationalized in BRIT, also use rationalise1. If you try to rationalize attitudes or actions that are difficult to accept, you think of reasons to justify or explain them. He further rationalized his activity by convincing himself that he was actually promoting peace
remove irrational quantities from; "This function can be rationalized" think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize" structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits
{f} invent possible reasons for an action which are not the true reasons; make something more logical, interpret something rationally; make a company more effective by joining or stopping certain activities (also rationalise)
When a company, system, or industry is rationalized, it is made more efficient, usually by getting rid of staff and equipment that are not essential. The network of 366 local offices is being rationalised to leave the company with 150 to 200 larger branch offices. = streamline + rationalization ra·tion·ali·za·tion the rationalization of the textile industry