exploratory

adjective

ex·​plor·​ato·​ry ik-ˈsplȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-ē 

: of, relating to, or being exploration

exploratory surgery

exploratory drilling for oil

Examples of exploratory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The book is an exploratory children’s book. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

The Baltimore Ravens officially declined to move forward with the project, saying the proposal was only in an exploratory phase, according to CBS News Baltimore. —Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Mar. 2026

And a diverse array of propulsion systems is essential to meet a broad spectrum of scientific, commercial and exploratory goals. —Lee Billings, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026

The brain as a whole becomes more chaotic, reflecting the injection of exploratory variance and potential solution pathways into its behavior. —Conor Feehly, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing exploratory

• exploratory surgery

Rhymes for exploratory

• accusatory
• admonitory
• ambulatory
• amendatory
• celebratory
• circulatory
• combinatory
• commendatory
• compensatory
• condemnatory
• confirmatory
• confiscatory

Kids Definition

exploratory

adjective

ex·​plor·​a·​to·​ry

ik-ˈsplōr-ə-ˌtōr-ē, 

-ˌtȯr-

: of, relating to, or being exploration

exploratory drilling for oil

an exploratory trip

exploratory surgery

Medical Definition

exploratory

adjective

ex·​plor·​ato·​ry ik-ˈsplōr-ə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˈsplȯr-, -ˌtȯr- 

: of, relating to, or being exploration

exploratory surgery