exploratory
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or concerned with exploration.
an exploratory operation.
-
inclined to make explorations.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exploratory
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Latin word explōrātōrius. See exploration, -ory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In an exploratory analysis, approximately 91% of participants receiving personalized retraining experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in pain, compared with 66% in the comparison group.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
His support for exploratory oil drilling in offshore waters near the mouth of the Amazon in particular has drawn criticism.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Two European lawmakers from the Greens group who went on an exploratory mission to the African country and neighbouring Uganda, said Wednesday their visit suggested the two nations were open for business.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
That moment, he said, was both vulnerable and exploratory, in a way he hoped “Dosis” would capture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
The connection between Holland as an exploratory power and Holland as an intellectual and cultural center was very strong.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
