expository

adjective

ex·​pos·​i·​to·​ry ik-ˈspä-zə-ˌtȯr-ē 

: of, relating to, or containing exposition

expository writing

Synonyms

• elucidative
• exegetical
• exegetic
• explanative
• explanatory
• explicative
• explicatory
• expositive
• illuminative
• illustrative
• interpretative
• interpretive

Examples of expository in a Sentence

an expository piece on the workings of the internal-combustion engine

Recent Examples on the Web

The first couple episodes begin with ominous cold opens new to the material, tackling the expository scientific explanation for the horrors to come in clever ways. —A.a. Dowd, Chron, 10 Jan. 2023

Here, that means that violent crime is deployed titillatingly, and character detail evoked nicely through performance is often, then, thuddingly restated in expository dialogue. —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 2 Jan. 2023

Part of that can be attributed to the tendency to tidy up Big Conversations with pat remarks and swift expository dialogue. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2022

Despite its first act telegraphing too much via expository dialogue, the rest of the script weaves together subtleties that light up magically throughout. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 10 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above