irrational

[ ih-rash-uh-nl ]

/ ɪˈræʃ ə nl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR irrational ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

without the faculty of reason; deprived of reason.

without or deprived of normal mental clarity or sound judgment.

not in accordance with reason; utterly illogical: irrational arguments.

not endowed with the faculty of reason: irrational animals.

Mathematics.

(of a number) not capable of being expressed exactly as a ratio of two integers.
(of a function) not capable of being expressed exactly as a ratio of two polynomials.

Algebra. (of an equation) having an unknown under a radical sign or, alternately, with a fractional exponent.

Greek and Latin Prosody.

of or relating to a substitution in the normal metrical pattern, especially a long syllable for a short one.
noting a foot or meter containing such a substitution.

noun

Mathematics. irrational number.

Origin of irrational

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Latin word irratiōnālis. See ir-², rational

SYNONYMS FOR irrational

3 unreasonable, ridiculous; insensate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR irrational ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM irrational

ir·ra·tion·al·ly, adverb ir·ra·tion·al·ness, noun non·ir·ra·tion·al, adjective, noun non·ir·ra·tion·al·ly, adverb

non·ir·ra·tion·al·ness, noun

Words nearby irrational

irradiance, irradiant, irradiate, irradiation, irradicable, irrational, irrational number, irrationalism, irrationality, irrationalize, irrawaddy

Example sentences from the Web for irrational

The fact that the virus is still alive has sustained many safety concerns, both rational and irrational, about its use.

Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World |Kent Sepkowitz |December 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
To a certain degree, there is an irrational sense of betrayal.

Renee Zellweger's Face Gets More Medical Scrutiny Than Ebola |Emily Shire |October 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But with no sign of an epidemic in the U.S. it seems, at the very least, irrational.

Ebola Panic Is Worse Than the Disease |Abby Haglage |October 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
One of the reasons the Vikings are viewed so negatively is that their violence could seem wanton or irrational.

How the Vikings Saved Europe and Got a Terrible Reputation |William O’Connor |September 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

I must confess to a fugitive and irrational wish that he might find some small mercies there.

Tupac and Murray Kempton: The Godfather Who Wore Tweed |Michael Daly |June 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
There is irrational behavior that I have been guilty of many times.

Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15) |The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Do we not mean that the thing appears to us irrational, and we want it shown that it is rational?

A Critical History of Greek Philosophy |W. T. Stace
I do not conclude that it is irrational to take measures for perpetuating the existing European order.

The Great Illusion |Norman Angell
But its wild, irrational career of destruction through the ages now was over.

Astounding Stories, July, 1931 |Various
Vain and irrational as was the early form of this anticipation, it was not without advantage.

Charles Sumner; his complete works; Volume 2 (of 20) |Charles Sumner

British Dictionary definitions for irrational

irrational

/ (ɪˈræʃənəl) /

adjective

inconsistent with reason or logic; illogical; absurd

incapable of reasoning

maths

not rational
(as noun)an irrational

prosody (in Greek or Latin verse)

of or relating to a metrical irregularity, usually the occurrence of a long syllable instead of a short one
denoting a metrical foot where such an irregularity occurs

Derived forms of irrational

irrationally, adverb irrationalness, noun

Medical definitions for irrational

irrational

[ ĭ-răsh′ə-nəl ]

adj.

Not rational; marked by a lack of accord with reason or sound judgment.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

irrational

adjective

noun

Origin of irrational

SYNONYMS FOR irrational

OTHER WORDS FROM irrational

Words nearby irrational

Example sentences from the Web for irrational

British Dictionary definitions for irrational

adjective

Derived forms of irrational

Medical definitions for irrational

adj.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

irrational

adjective

noun

Origin of irrational

SYNONYMS FOR irrational

OTHER WORDS FROM irrational

Words nearby irrational

Words related to irrational

Example sentences from the Web for irrational

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for irrational

adjective

Derived forms of irrational

Medical definitions for irrational

adj.

British Dictionary definitions for irrational