Definition of: rationalize

(rash′ən·əl·īz′) v. ·ized, ·iz·ing v.t.
1. Psychol. To explain (one's behavior) on grounds ostensibly rational but not in accord with the actual or unconscious motives.
2. To explain or treat from a rationalistic point of view.
3. To make rational or reasonable; render conformable to reason.
4. Math. To remove the radicals containing variables from (an expression or equation); also, to alter the radicals so as to change (the expression) into more workable form: thus, if = 3, then, by squaring, x² + 2x = 9, and x² + 2x - 9 = 0.
—v.i.
5. To think in a rational or rationalistic manner.
6. Psychol. To rationalize one's behavior.
—ra′tion·al·iz′er noun