explanatory
UK: ɪkˈsplænətəri | US: ɪkˈsplænətɔːri
adj. serving or intended to explain something clearly.
The word "explanatory" traces back to Latin explanare ("to make flat or clear," from ex- "out" + planus "flat"). The root plan originally meant "flat" but evolved metaphorically to imply "making clear" (as in smoothing out confusion). The suffix -atory (from Latin -atorius) forms adjectives meaning "relating to or serving for." Thus, "explanatory" literally means "serving to make something clear or understandable."
The teacher provided explanatory notes to help students understand the complex theory.
The manual includes explanatory diagrams for each step of the assembly process.
His tone was more explanatory than defensive during the interview.
The documentary features explanatory voiceovers to clarify historical events.
She wrote an explanatory email to address the misunderstanding.