explorer

noun

ex·​plor·​er ik-ˈsplȯr-ər 

1

: one that explores

especially : a person who travels in search of geographical or scientific information

2

Explorer : a member of a coed scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America for young people ages 14 to 20 focusing on career awareness

Examples of explorer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alberto Santos-Dumont was the son of a French-Brazilian coffee tycoon, and a dashing explorer and aeronaut. — Adam Erace, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

The Nuptse debuted in 1992 and has been keeping explorers warm around the world since. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

On October 12, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and his crew landed in the Bahamas aboard the now-legendary Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

While some species are named after scientists or explorers, the researchers named this one Leopardus tilcayo, preserving the moniker used by communities in the tropical cloud forests of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia where the animal lives. — Paola Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for explorer

• restorer
• borer
• corer
• horror
• maurer
• scorer
• storer

Kids Definition

explorer

noun

ex·​plor·​er ik-ˈsplōr-ər 

-ˈsplȯr-

1

: one that explores

a vehicle called the lunar explorer

especially : a person who travels in search of new geographical or scientific information

2

capitalized : a member of the scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America for young people 14 to 20 years old

Medical Definition

explorer

noun

ex·​plor·​er ik-ˈsplōr-ər, -ˈsplȯr- 

: an instrument for exploring cavities especially in teeth : probe sense 1