Examples of explanatory in a Sentence
There are explanatory notes at the front of the book.
the explanatory section has as its heading “What the New Tax Changes Mean”
Recent Examples on the Web
First the explanatory power from seeing the big picture once hidden.
—
Emil Steiner, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
While the theory was meant to be explanatory, in the sense that observers used it to explain apparently irrational behavior, it has sometimes been used in a prescriptive way, as an approach consciously adopted by leaders.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Your first thought might be that the purpose of each room is self explanatory—kitchen is for cooking, bedroom is for sleeping, living room is for relaxing or entertaining—but Guest encourages homeowners to dig deeper.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2026
Her vision for the network’s future involves not just breaking news but also explanatory journalism, investigations, and collaborations with personalities who have grown their own audiences online.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explanatory
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Emil Steiner, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
While the theory was meant to be explanatory, in the sense that observers used it to explain apparently irrational behavior, it has sometimes been used in a prescriptive way, as an approach consciously adopted by leaders.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Your first thought might be that the purpose of each room is self explanatory—kitchen is for cooking, bedroom is for sleeping, living room is for relaxing or entertaining—but Guest encourages homeowners to dig deeper.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2026
Her vision for the network’s future involves not just breaking news but also explanatory journalism, investigations, and collaborations with personalities who have grown their own audiences online.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for explanatory
Cite this Entry
“Explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explanatory. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
explanatory
adjective
ex·plan·a·to·ry
ik-ˈsplan-ə-ˌtōr-ē 
-ˌtȯr-
: serving to explain
explanatory notes
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