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.

---

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

“You ought to hear it from Violet,” says I. “She’s the star explainer of that combination.”

From Odd Numbers Being Further Chronicles of Shorty McCabe by Ford, Sewell

Related Words

• linguist