Irrational is an adjective describing something that does not follow reason or logical thinking. It characterizes beliefs, actions, or behaviors driven by emotion, impulse, or illogical conclusions rather than evidence or consistent logic. The term often implies a departure from rational assessment in a way that seems unreasonable or baffling to others.
"Her fear of flying seems irrational given the safety statistics."
"The manager argued that his decision was irrational and not supported by data."
"They accused the policy of being irrational, failing to address the real issues."
"In debate, you should avoid irrational conclusions and present clear, logical arguments."
Irrational comes from the Latin roots in- (not) and ratio (reason), combined with the suffix -al to form a descriptor meaning 'not in accordance with reason.' The term first appears in English in the early 17th century, aligning with a shift toward more analytic and philosophic language in early scientific discourse. Its core sense—counter to reason—developed alongside Latin-based legal and scholastic vocabulary that distinguished what could be rationally defended from what could not. The intermediate form irrationality emerged in discussions about belief, judgement, and action that contradicted accepted reasoning. Over time, the word broadened from philosophical context to everyday usage, where it describes anything excessively illogical, unreasonable, or inconsistent with evidence. In modern usage, irrational is common in psychology, critical thinking, and debates, typically paired with adjectives like extreme, sentimental, or unfounded to stress the absence of rational support.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Irrational" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Irrational"
-nal sounds
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Irrational is pronounced /ɪˈræʃənəl/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: i-RAT-io-nal. Start with a short, lax I as in sit, then a strong R sound, followed by a relaxed 'a' in the schwa-tinged second syllable. End with an unaccented 'al' as a schwa + l. Listen for the rhythm: short, stressed syllable, then three lighter sounds. An audio reference is available in standard dictionaries or Pronounce resources for a clear model.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress (e.g., i-RATION-al) and mispronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel rather than a reduced schwa. Another slip is turning the 't' into a hard sound or slurring the final 'al' into an unclear ending. Correct by emphasizing the /æ/ reduction to /ə/ in the second syllable and practicing the sequence /ɪˈræʃənəl/ with careful tongue movement: start with a light initial vowel, then a crisp /ræ/ followed by a relaxed /ʃən/ and a concise /əl/ at the end.
In US/UK/AU, the primary stress remains on the second syllable /ɪˈræʃənəl/. Rhoticity affects vowel coloration: US rhotics may make the 'r' more pronounced before/after vowels; UK often features a less pronounced rhotic r in non-rhotic contexts; AU tends to a clearer, more clipped vowel length. The /ʃ/ in the third syllable remains consistent, but vowel quality in the /ə/ and /ɜː/ vicinity can shift slightly with accent. Overall, the rhythm and stress stay stable, while subtle vowel timbre and linked speech differentiate regions.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a strong secondary cluster: /ɪˈræ/ followed by /ʃənəl/. The second syllable carries the primary stress, which can throw learners off, making them misplace stress as i-RAT-ional. Additionally, the /ʃ/ sound can be tricky if your tongue is not in the right place; it requires a precise blend of alveolar and palatal contact. The reduction of the second vowel to a schwa can be overlooked, leading to a longer, more erred vowel in casual speech.
A distinctive feature is the clear de-emphasis of the final syllable 'al' as /əl/ rather than a full /əl/ that some learners expect, and the 'rat' portion with /ræʃ/ where the /ʃ/ sits after a short /æ/. This combination makes the word feel 'staccato' in careful speech: i-RAT-shuh-nuhl. Listening to native speakers and mimicking the rhythm can help solidify the natural flow and reduce over-enunciation of the ending.
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