Rationalist Meaning
/ˈræʃənəlist/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA person who follows the philosophy of rationalism.
nounA member of the rationalist community.
Sentence Examples
The author takes a purely rationalist approach to the issue.
He is a well-known rationalist thinker and social critic.
As a rationalist, she relies on logic rather than emotion.
CEFR Practice Quiz
A ____ relies on reason and logic rather than emotion or faith to make decisions.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ philosopher argued that pure reason alone could reveal fundamental truths about reality.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French rationaliste; rational + -ist.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“He says,” replied Lord Peter, “that he believes Hannah to be a sincerely religious woman. He has sat beside her in chapel and shared her hymn-book.” “But that may be the merest hypocrisy,” said Miss Murchison, rather warmly, for she was militantly rationalist. “I don’t trust these unctuous people.”"
— 1930, Dorothy L. Sayers, Strong Poison:
"Some rationalists were in touch with Oxford philosophers, including Toby Ord and William MacAskill, the founders of the effective-altruism movement, which studied how to do the most good for humanity (and, by extension, how to avoid ending it)."
— 2024 March 18, Andrew Marantz, “О.К., Doomer”, in The New Yorker, page 45:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A ____ relies on reason and logic rather than emotion or faith to make decisions.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ philosopher argued that pure reason alone could reveal fundamental truths about reality.