Irrational is an adjective that describes something or someone deviating from reason, logic, or sound judgment. It refers to actions, beliefs, thoughts, or decisions that lack coherence, consistency, or logical reasoning.
In the context of behavior, irrationality refers to behavior that is driven by emotions, instincts, or impulses rather than rational thought or thoughtful analysis. It denotes actions that are not based on clear or logical thinking but rather on whims, biases, prejudices, fears, or desires.
When applied to beliefs or thoughts, irrational implies ideas or beliefs that are not supported by evidence, facts, or logical arguments. These beliefs may be unfounded, illogical, or inconsistent with reality. Irrational thinking often disregards rationality, objectivity, and logical reasoning.
In mathematics, an irrational number is a real number that cannot be expressed as a fraction, as it features an infinite non-repeating decimal expansion. Examples of irrational numbers include the square root of 2 (√2) or pi (π), which cannot be expressed exactly as fractions.
Overall, irrational describes actions, beliefs, thoughts, or decisions that are not guided by reason or sound judgment. It suggests a departure from logic, coherence, and rationality, often associated with emotions, instincts, or unfounded ideas.
