What does explanatorily mean?
"Explanatorily" is an adverb meaning in a manner that explains or clarifies. It is derived from "explanatory," itself rooted in the Latin explanare, meaning to flatten out or make plain — the same root that gives us "explain." The word is used when something is done with the purpose of shedding light on a subject: a diagram may be included explanatorily, or a speaker may pause explanatorily before a difficult point. Because English speakers generally prefer periphrastic alternatives such as "by way of explanation" or "for explanatory purposes," the adverb is uncommon and can sound stiff or contrived even to educated readers. It is best reserved for formal, technical, or academic contexts where its precision is worth its formality, and it remains far less frequent than either "explanatory" or "explanation."
adverbIn a manner that serves to explain or make something clear; for explanatory purposes.
- In a way that explains or clarifies; serving an explanatory function.
"The appendix includes several diagrams that are explanatorily useful but not essential to the argument."
"The footnote functions explanatorily rather than critically."
"She gestured explanatorily as she walked the audience through the data."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of explanatorily
"Explanatorily" is formed from the adjective "explanatory" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly," following regular English derivation. "Explanatory" comes from Late Latin explanatorius, from Latin explanare, meaning to make level or plain, hence to make clear. That verb combines ex- ('out') with planus ('flat, plain'), the root behind both "plain" and "plan." Cognates include "explain" and "explanation," all sharing this Latin ancestry.
Related word forms
How explanatorily is actually used
A rare and somewhat awkward adverb; writers more often rephrase using 'in explanation' or 'for explanatory purposes'. It appears mostly in formal or academic prose.
Easily confused with explanatorily
'Explanatory' is an adjective describing something that explains, while 'explanatorily' is the corresponding adverb describing how something is done.