To rationalize means to come up with logical-sounding reasons to justify something you want to do or believe, even when those reasons aren't the real motivation. When you rationalize, you're essentially telling yourself a convenient story that makes your choice seem reasonable.

Imagine you promised yourself to save your allowance, but then you see a video game you really want. You might rationalize buying it by thinking, “Well, I worked really hard this week, so I deserve a reward,” or “It's educational because it involves strategy.” The real reason is simply that you want the game, but rationalization gives you permission to ignore your original goal.

People rationalize all kinds of decisions. A student might rationalize skipping homework by thinking, “I already understand this material, so doing the practice problems would just be busywork.” An athlete might rationalize skipping practice by deciding, “My body probably needs rest more than training today.” Notice how these excuses sound almost sensible, which is exactly what makes rationalization tricky.

When you rationalize, you're using reasoning backward. Instead of letting logic guide your decision, you've already decided what you want and you're just hunting for logical-sounding support. True rational thinking means following the evidence wherever it leads, even when it's inconvenient.