reasonable
Americanadjective
-
agreeable to reason or sound judgment; logical.
a reasonable choice for chairman.
- Synonyms:
- wise, judicious, intelligent, equitable
-
not exceeding the limit prescribed by reason; not excessive.
reasonable terms.
-
moderate, especially in price; not expensive.
The coat was reasonable but not cheap.
-
endowed with reason.
-
capable of rational behavior, decision, etc.
adjective
-
showing reason or sound judgment
-
having the ability to reason
-
having modest or moderate expectations; not making unfair demands
-
moderate in price; not expensive
-
fair; average
reasonable weather
Related Words
Reasonable, rational refer to the faculty of reasoning. Rational can refer to the reasoning faculty itself or to something derived from that faculty: rational powers; a rational analysis. It can also mean sane or sensible: She was no longer rational; a rational plan. Reasonable most often means sensible: A reasonable supposition is one which appeals to our common sense. See moderate.
Other Word Forms
- half-reasonable adjective
- half-reasonably adverb
- nonreasonability noun
- nonreasonable adjective
- nonreasonableness noun
- nonreasonably adverb
- quasi-reasonable adjective
- quasi-reasonably adverb
- reasonability noun
- reasonableness noun
- reasonably adverb
Etymology
Origin of reasonable
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English resonable, from Middle French raisonnable, from Latin ratiōnābilis. See reason, -able
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tech stocks are starting to look more reasonable.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
We learned a lot from German Wikipedia and Stack Overflow about how A.I. restrictions can be implemented and what constitutes a reasonable exception.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
Even when denying Tamora’s entreaties, Mr. Page’s Titus speaks in grave but reasonable tones, without a trace of rancor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
But the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office dropped the charges on Feb. 11, citing “no reasonable likelihood of conviction.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026
It was a vintage Madisonian performance: utterly reasonable, flawlessly logical, disarmingly temperate.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
