explainer
noun
ex·plain·er
ik-ˈsplā-nər 
plural explainers
: a person or thing that explains something: such as
a
: a person who makes something understandable
Modern day presidents must be good explainers of a complex world …—
Jonathan Alter et al.
Jonathan Alter et al.
b
: an article, podcast, graphic, etc., that explains something complex or not widely understood : an in-depth treatment of a topic
… a whizzy economics explainer titled "Ways & Means" …—Sana Krasikov
Sana KrasikovEach half-hour episode contained a big explainer of a complicated issue. The list of topics sounds like the arcane scraps from the cutting-room floor of most newsrooms—the amount of hidden sugar in food, civil forfeiture, the false hopes of lotteries, the failure of the American government to safeguard people who served as interpreters in Iraq and Afghanistan.—David Carr
David CarrInside, the issue contains a long explainer piece on how the subprime mess came to be and how it wreaked havoc on Citi, Wall Street and especially Merrill.—Yvette Kantrow
Yvette KantrowExamples of explainer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Each issue curates essays, interviews, frameworks, and visual explainers that add up to a coherent exploration of a topic that matters.
—Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Following the buyout, the Farmers' Almanac will continue to publish its online content, including the long-range weather predictions, gardening guidance, astronomical events and calendars, recipes, and other tips and explainers.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Here’s an explainer on the background and what might happen in the future.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The 43-page lawsuit includes detailed studies and explainers on decibel limits, which Roth said appeared to have been gathered before the venue even opened.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explainer
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Following the buyout, the Farmers' Almanac will continue to publish its online content, including the long-range weather predictions, gardening guidance, astronomical events and calendars, recipes, and other tips and explainers.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Here’s an explainer on the background and what might happen in the future.
—Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The 43-page lawsuit includes detailed studies and explainers on decibel limits, which Roth said appeared to have been gathered before the venue even opened.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explainer
Cite this Entry
“Explainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explainer. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
