* To describe a process of explaining away a bad behavior: "His constant lateness was a blatant disregard for the rules, but he used rationalization to convince himself that it was unavoidable."
* To describe an act of making something seem logical: "The company's rationalization of its decision to lay off workers was that it was necessary for long-term stability."
* To describe a justification for a decision: "While her decision was ultimately based on emotions, she later tried to create a rationalization for it based on logic."
* To describe an attempt to deceive oneself: "She tried to convince herself it was the right choice, but it was just a rationalization for her own selfishness."
* To describe a defense mechanism: "Some people use rationalization as a defense mechanism to avoid facing their own shortcomings."