explanatory

adjective

ex·​plan·​a·​to·​ry ik-ˈspla-nə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce explanatory (audio)
: serving to explain
explanatory notes
explanatorily adverb

Examples of explanatory in a Sentence

There are explanatory notes at the front of the book. the explanatory section has as its heading “What the New Tax Changes Mean”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Teachers could not use the internet in classes, which ruled out many teaching aids, such as explanatory videos, but the students were no less diligent and curious. Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025 Users first noticed the change yesterday as an explanatory message hit the Paramount+ support site and its sign-up pages were refreshed to feature the new name. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 June 2025 Visual explanatory tools can bridge the understanding gap. Taposh Roy, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 Of all the various isms proposed to capture Trump’s ideology, social Darwinism has perhaps the most explanatory power. Erik Baker, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for explanatory

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of explanatory was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explanatory. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

explanatory

adjective
ex·​plan·​a·​to·​ry ik-ˈsplan-ə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce explanatory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
: serving to explain
explanatory notes
explanatorily adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on explanatory

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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