reasonable

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English

Etymology

From Middle English resonable, from Old French resnable, from Late Latin rationabilis, from Latin ratio; more at reason, -able.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɹiː.zən.ə.bəl/, /ˈɹiːz.nə.bəl/
    • Audio (US):(file)
  • (General Australian) IPA(key):
  • Hyphenation: rea‧son‧able

Adjective

reasonable (comparative more reasonable, superlative most reasonable)

  1. (now rare) Having the faculty of reason; rational, reasoning.
    Synonym: reasonous
    Synonyms: irrational, non-rational, unreasonable
    • 1634, William Wood, “Beasts Living in the Water”, in New Englands Prospect. A True, Lively, and Experimentall Description of that Part of America, Commonly Called New England; , London: Tho Cotes, for Iohn Bellamie, , →OCLC, 1st part, page 25:
      The wiſdome and underſtanding of this Beaſt [the beaver], vvill almoſt conclude him a reaſonable creature: […]
  2. Just; fair; agreeable to reason.
    Synonyms: equitable, reasonous, righteous, upright
    Synonyms: absurd, arbitrary, unjust, unreasonable
    • 2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club‎:
      The episode also opens with an inspired bit of business for Homer, who blithely refuses to acquiesce to an elderly neighbor’s utterly reasonable request that he help make the process of selling her house easier by wearing pants when he gallivants about in front of windows […]
  3. Not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper.
    Synonyms: reasonous, temperate; see also Thesaurus:moderate
    Synonyms: unreasonable; see also Thesaurus:excessive
    a reasonable demand, amount, or price
  4. Not expensive; fairly priced.
    Synonyms: affordable, competitive
    Synonyms: expensive, extortionate, unreasonable; see also Thesaurus:expensive
    $20 a bottle is very reasonable for a good wine at a restaurant.
    • Say, would you happen to know a good place for lunch in the downtown area? ... The Radisson ... Oh yah? ... Is it reasonable? - Marge Gunderson in Fargo (1996)
  5. Satisfactory.
    Synonyms: acceptable; see also Thesaurus:satisfactory
    Synonyms: unreasonable, unsatisfactory
    The builders did a reasonable job, given the short notice.

Derived terms

Translations

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