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

capitalized : 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

Related article These ocean explorers have seen the damage done by industrial fishing. —Nell Lewis, CNN Money, 8 May 2025

Longevity researcher shares secrets of the world’s ‘blue zones’ Dan Buettner, an American author, explorer and longevity researcher who first coined the term 'blue zone,' embarked on a mission to find out how people are living to 100 in certain parts of the world. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025

Some Americans, especially within Native American communities, have argued to change the focus of the holiday in part because of the bloodshed and devastation the Italian explorer left behind. —Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025

In recent years, activists — specifically from within the Indigenous community — have moved to dismantle the mythology surrounding Columbus as an intrepid and pioneering explorer, instead shining light on his legacy of Native American colonization and violence. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2025

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