anti-rational
|an-ti-ra-tion-al|
/ˌæn.tiˈræʃ.ə.nəl/
against reason
Etymology
'anti-rational' originates from the combining form 'anti-' and the adjective 'rational': 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against', and 'rational' comes from Latin 'rationalis' (from 'ratio') meaning 'reason'.
'rational' developed from Latin 'rationalis' into Old French/Medieval Latin forms and then into Middle English 'rational'; the modern compound 'anti-rational' is formed in English by prefixing Greek-derived 'anti-' to that adjective.
Initially, the root 'rational' meant 'pertaining to reason'; the compound has the straightforward, literal meaning 'against reason' and has been used to label attitudes or positions that reject reason-based approaches.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is opposed to rational thought or to reliance on reason; (also) the quality or tendency of being opposed to reason ('anti-rationalism').
Some critics described him as an anti-rational who preferred rhetoric over data.
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Adjective 1
opposed to reason or rational thought; rejecting reasoning, logic, or evidence-based approaches.
The group's anti-rational stance led them to dismiss scientific findings without review.
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Last updated: 2025/11/03 08:37