irrationality

/i,ræʃə'næliti/

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Explanation of "Irrationality"

Definition: "Irrationality" is a noun that describes a state of being irrational. This means a person is not using reason or logic when thinking or making decisions. Instead, they might act based on emotions, fears, or other non-logical reasons.

Word Variants:

• Irrational (adjective): Describes something that lacks reason. For example, "Her irrational response surprised everyone."
• Irrationally (adverb): Describes doing something in an irrational way. For example, "He acted irrationally when he sold his shares during the market crash."

Different Meanings:

While "irrationality" mainly refers to a lack of reason in thinking or behavior, it can also be used in contexts like: - Mathematics: Referring to irrational numbers (like √2 or π) which cannot be expressed as a simple fraction.

Synonyms:

• Unreasonableness
• Illogicality
• Absurdity
• Insanity (in a more extreme context)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Jumping to conclusions": This idiom means making a decision or forming an opinion before having all the facts, which can be seen as a form of irrationality.
• "Throw caution to the wind": This phrase means to act without thinking about the risks involved, often leading to irrational decisions.

Summary:

"Irrationality" is about lacking logic in thoughts or actions. It can be used in many contexts, especially when discussing behaviors that don't seem to make sense. Remember that it has related forms like "irrational" and "irrationally," and you can illustrate it with examples from everyday life or more complex situations.

Academic

Noun

1. the state of being irrational; lacking powers of understanding

Synonyms

• unreason