explainer

American  

[ik-spley-ner] / ɪkˈspleɪ nər /

noun

1. a person, document, video, etc., that explains something (often used attributively).

   an explainer article that gives the reader background information about a news story.

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Etymology

Origin of explainer

First recorded in 1575–1600; explain ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

When Thalia Toha wasn’t sure how to answer her teenage daughter’s question about what just happened in Venezuela, she stumbled on the perfect explainer: a scene from a 2019 episode of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Treasuries—see Barron’s explainer of the yen carry trade, which has funded U.S. government debt purchases for years.

From Barron's • Dec. 4, 2025

Once the beneficiary turns 18, the account has to be converted to an IRA, and withdrawal rules on these accounts apply, the Schwab explainer noted.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

Here’s an explainer for how this campaign against Netflix kicked off, what it really means for the streaming business, and why this may not have the oft-noted “Bud Light” impact.

From Slate • Oct. 3, 2025

What can science, the great explainer, say on this subject?

From Joseph Smith as Scientist A Contribution to Mormon Philosophy by Widtsoe, John Andreas

Related Words

• linguist