Rationale
Etymology
From Latin "rationalis" (reasoned, endowed with reason), from "ratio" (reckoning, reason). English adopted the neuter form "rationale" specifically to name the reasoned account behind something — the explanation, distinct from the decision itself.
noun · /rash-uh-NAL/
The underlying reasons or logical basis given for a decision or belief.
What it names
Reach for it to name the stated why behind a choice — the reasoning offered to justify it, whether sound or self-serving.
Example
The rationale for the layoffs was cost, but the timing suggested something else.
Related idea
Distinguish it from rationalization: a rationale is the genuine reasoning behind a choice, while a rationalization is a plausible-sounding reason invented afterward to justify a choice made for other reasons. Same raw material — reasons — but one leads the decision and the other trails it.
See also