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

Design practices Not knowing ahead of time what lunar explorers may face is an unsure, shuddering proposition. — Leonard David, Space.com, 20 June 2026

Founded in 1941 by Richard Archbold, a wealthy explorer with ties to Standard Oil, the 20,000-acre facility (including Buck Island Ranch) fields studies of many different wildlife species, but its flagship is an endangered bird, the Scrub Jay. — Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

The latest album from John Dwyer and his fellow garage-psych explorers embraces a fluid, improvisatory approach rooted in sprawling jam sessions and infinitely unspooling grooves. — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 18 June 2026

Freedom250 is promising attendees an interactive experience at the state pavilions, from Michigan's mechanical milking cow to Florida's re-creation of a Spanish fort honoring explorer Juan Ponce de León. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 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