explanatory answer
noun phraseUK /ɪkˈsplæn.ə.tər.i ˈɑːn.sər/
US /ɪkˈsplæn.ə.tɔːr.i ˈæn.sɚ/
An explanatory answer is a reply that helps you understand why or how something happens.
When the teacher asked why the sky is blue, Maya gave a clear explanatory answer about light and air.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A response in a test or homework that shows the steps or reasons behind an answer, not just the final result.
For question five, write an explanatory answer showing how you solved the equation.
3. A reply that gives the cause or purpose of something rather than just a fact.
His explanatory answer told us why the school trip was cancelled, not just that it was.
4. A detailed reply that makes a confusing idea easier to grasp.
The scientist's explanatory answer made the robot's code easy for the kids to follow.