ratiocination

/rætiˌoʊsəˈneɪʃən/

/ˌræʃiˌoʊsəˈneɪʃən/

Other forms: ratiocinations

Take your time and think things through logically. That's what it means to use ratiocination to solve a problem.

To correctly pronounce ratiocination say, "rat-ee-oh-seh-NA-shun." Ratiocination uses reason or logic to figure something out. It might involve determining probabilities, syllogisms, even mathematical formulas, or simply following all the steps in a process that you believe will lead you to the correct or best answer. Ratiocination is the opposite of taking a wild guess or just "going with your gut."

Definitions of ratiocination

1. noun

   the proposition arrived at by logical reasoning (such as the proposition that must follow from the major and minor premises of a syllogism)
   synonyms: conclusion

   type of:

   proposition

   (logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
2. noun

   logical and methodical reasoning
   type of:

   abstract thought, logical thinking, reasoning

   thinking that is coherent and logical