Reason (noun) refers to a basis or justification for beliefs, actions, or conclusions. It also denotes the cause or explanation for something. In usage, it often appears in phrases like “for this reason” and can imply logical thinking or motive. The term anchors argumentative clarity and rational thought in discourse.
"I can’t attend the meeting without a good reason."
"His reason for leaving was to pursue a new opportunity."
"The detective sought the reason behind the strange behavior."
"We debated the reasons why the project failed."
Reason comes from Middle English reason, reuen, from Old French raison, from Latin ratio, meaning reckoning, computation, or account. The Latin root ratio itself is tied to recognitions of calculation and proportional thinking, akin to accounting for outcomes. In early Old French, raison encompassed both logical argument and cause; by Middle English, it solidified into the sense of a justification or motive behind actions, as well as the capacity for rational thinking. The semantic span broadened through philosophy and law in the 16th-18th centuries, where reason became central to inquiries about truth and justifiable beliefs. Over time, the word maintained its core sense of cause, justification, and logical basis, while expanding into idiomatic uses like “for this reason” and as a field of human cognitive capacity—reason as the power of thinking, evaluating, and drawing conclusions. First known uses in English appear in translations of Classical Latin and French philosophical works, with the concept entering English literature by the late medieval/early modern period. In modern usage, reason remains foundational in law, debate, science, and everyday decision-making, signifying both motive and justification as well as the mental faculty of rational thought.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Reason" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Reason" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Reason"
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Pronounce it as /ˈriː.zən/ in US and UK. The primary stress is on the first syllable: REE-zən. Start with a long /iː/ vowel, then a relaxed /z/ voiced consonant, and finish with a schwa /ə/ in the second syllable. Lip position is neutral, teeth lightly touching for /z/, and the tongue sits high for /iː/ before relaxing for /zən/. For Australian speakers, it’s similar: /ˈɹiː.zən/ with a slightly more centralized vowel in casual speech.
Common errors include mispronouncing the second syllable as /ən/ with reduced vowel or pronouncing /r/ too strongly in non-rhotic accents. Correction: ensure the first syllable carries primary stress with /iː/ as in “reed,” keep the /z/ distinct, and finish with a clear /ən/ or /ən/ (a light schwa followed by n). Don’t drop the final /n/ or turn /zən/ into /zən/ without the nasal. Practice: REE-zən, not REEZ-an or REE-zuhn.
In US/UK, /ˈriː.zən/ with a long /iː/ and a clear /z/ followed by a schwa and /n/. US rhotics are present in the initial cluster; UK is non-rhotic in some dialects but does not alter the syllable’s core phonemes. Australian English mirrors US pronunciation in vowel length of /iː/ and the final /ən/, but often features a more centralized /ə/ in casual speech and a slightly lighter /z/.
The word hides a subtle vowel length contrast and a consonant cluster that can blur in rapid speech: the /iː/ in the first syllable, the /z/ fricative linking into a final /ən/. In connected speech, the transition from /z/ to a soft /ən/ can become a reduced /zən/ or even link to the following word. Maintaining distinct /z/ and /ən/ helps clarity, and the primary stress on the first syllable guides proper rhythm.
Reason uniquely has a long front vowel followed by a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ and a final unstressed syllable with a schwa, resulting in a two-syllable rhythm: REE-zən. The combination of a tense high-front vowel and the alveolar fricative can trip non-native speakers into misplacing stress or softening the /z/ too much. Keeping the /z/ distinct and finishing with a clear, relaxed /ən/ preserves the word’s natural cadence.
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