explanatory

American  

[ik-splan-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ɪkˈsplæn əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

Sometimes explanative

adjective

1. serving to explain.

   an explanatory footnote.

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explanatory British  

/ ɪkˈsplænətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. serving or intended to serve as an explanation

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Other Word Forms

• explanatively adverb
• explanatorily adverb
• nonexplanative adjective
• nonexplanatory adjective
• preexplanatory adjective
• unexplanatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of explanatory

From the Late Latin word explānātōrius, dating back to 1610–20. See explain, -tory ¹

Example Sentences

The format typically featured a handsome photograph of an empty, book-lined study, under which ran an explanatory account by the absent author identifying those elements particularly conducive to his or her creative process.

From The Wall Street Journal

This is an explanatory article that may be updated.

From The Wall Street Journal

Shaffer succeeds in this regard, but the wordy play grows cumbersome in its final explanatory stages.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2016, he was part of a Journal team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in explanatory reporting for a series of articles about rising prescription drug prices.

From The Wall Street Journal

While at the Tribune, Heather was part of a team that won the 2015 Gerald Loeb Award for explanatory reporting for a series on Chicago’s municipal debt.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• analytical
• informative
• interpretive
• supplementary