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
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
rea•son•a•ble /ˈrizənəbəl, ˈriznə-/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- agreeable to or in agreement with reason;
logical:a reasonable conclusion from the facts. - not exceeding the limits of reason;
not too high or too much;
fair:a reasonable price for the new car. - capable of rational behavior, decision, etc.
rea•son•a•ble
(rē′zə nə bəl, rēz′nə-),USA pronunciation adj.
rea′son•a•ble•ness, rea′son•a•bil′i•ty, n.
rea′son•a•bly, adv.
- agreeable to reason or sound judgment;
logical:a reasonable choice for chairman. - not exceeding the limit prescribed by reason;
not excessive:reasonable terms. - moderate, esp. in price;
not expensive:The coat was reasonable but not cheap. - endowed with reason.
- capable of rational behavior, decision, etc.
- Latin ratiōnābilis. See reason, -able
- Middle French raisonnable
- Middle English resonable 1250–1300
rea′son•a•bly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged intelligent, judicious, wise, equitable. 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.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged equitable, fair, just. See moderate.
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