# explanatory

/ɪksˈpɫænəˌtɔɹi/ (US) · /ɛksplˈænətəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/explanatory
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. serving to explain

adjective · CEFR B2

intended to explain something so that it is easy to understand.

For teachers: serving to provide an explanation or to make something clear and understandable.

- The book includes several explanatory notes at the end of each chapter.
- The museum provided explanatory placards alongside the artifacts to help visitors understand the historical context of the exhibition.

### 2. inclined to explain

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing a person who likes to give reasons or details for their actions.

For teachers: disposed or inclined to offer explanations for one's behavior or beliefs.

- He was in an explanatory mood and talked for an hour about his decision.
- The CEO adopted an explanatory tone during the press conference, attempting to justify the sudden shift in corporate strategy to the shareholders.

## Examples

- The book includes several explanatory notes at the end.
- The museum guide provided explanatory text next to each painting to help visitors understand the historical context.
- While the raw data was impressive, the researchers included an explanatory preface to ensure that non-specialists could interpret the findings without misconstruing the underlying variables.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.