different between rationalize vs operationalize

English

Alternative forms

• rationalise (UK et al)

Etymology

From French rationaliser. Surface etymology is rational +? -ize

Verb

rationalize (third-person singular simple present rationalizes, present participle rationalizing, simple past and past participle rationalized)

1. To make something rational or more rational.
2. To justify an immoral act, or illogical behaviour. “The process of thought by which one justifies a discreditable act, and by which one offers to oneself and the world a better motive for one's action than the true motive”
3. (mathematics) To remove radicals, without changing the value of an expression or the roots of an equation.
4. To structure something along modern, efficient and systematic lines, or according to scientific principles. This often includes eliminating duplication and grouping like or similar items.

Derived terms

• rationalization, rationalisation

Translations

References

Anagrams

• realization

French

Pronunciation

• Homophones: rationalisent, rationalises

Verb

rationalize

1. first-person singular present indicative of rationaliser
2. third-person singular present indicative of rationaliser
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of rationaliser
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of rationaliser
5. second-person singular imperative of rationaliser

English

Alternative forms

• operationalise

Etymology

From operational +? -ize.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p???e??(?)n?l??z/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??p???e???n??la?z/

Verb

operationalize (third-person singular simple present operationalizes, present participle operationalizing, simple past and past participle operationalized)

1. (transitive) To make operational.
2. (transitive, social sciences) To define (a concept) in such a way that it can be practically measured.
   • 1956, Ernest Greenwood, "New Directions in Delinquency Research: A Commentary on a Study by Bernard Lander," Social Service Review, vol. 30, no. 2, p. 152:

     To operationalize a concept is to identify those variables in terms of which the phenomenon represented by the concept can be accurately observed.

   • 2012, Adam Zeman, ‘Only Connect’, Literary Review, issue 399:

     Vision seems ‘childishly simple’ to us but proves to be fiendishly hard to operationalise, precisely because we are so good at it.

Derived terms