Explorer – a traveler who goes to unknown, unfamiliar, or faraway places to learn about or explore the unknown territory.
This term has two connotations at once – an “explorer” is a historical term referring to the adventurer who was exploring new territories from the 15th to the 20th century, and a modern term meaning a traveler exploring things without any pre-planned destination.
“Explorer” Pronunciation Tips
Audio (UK):
Audio (US):
“Explorer” has three syllables: ex-PLOR-er. The main stress is placed on the second syllable. The explor- part has the same /ɔːr/ diphthong as in “more”, “store”, “floor”, and “explore”. In American English, the -er ending has an r-colored vowel /ɚ/, so take care to pronounce the r clearly.
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Plural, Possessive & Article Forms of “Explorer”
“Explorer” is a regular countable noun without exception. The forms are straightforward and regular. The frequent usage of the noun in historical texts, biographies, and popular science articles means that the possessive form is quite common as well.
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Form |
Example |
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Singular: an explorer |
She described herself as
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Plural: explorers |
The museum dedicated an entire wing to European
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Singular possessive: explorer’s |
The
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Plural possessive: explorers’ |
The
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With “the”: the explorer |
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Collocations: Words That Pair with “Explorer”
Collocations with “explorer” have relevance not only from the point of view of historical usage but also from the scientific perspective, modern exploration, and even in a metaphorical context. As this term is full of culture, the adjectives used with it are accurate and expressive. Memorize the phrases provided and add color to your descriptions.
Adjective + “Explorer” Collocations
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Phrase |
Explanation |
Example |
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one of the first people to explore a region |
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a well-known explorer |
Many
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brave and adventurous explorer |
The
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someone who explores alone |
As a
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non-professional explorer |
An
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person who investigates abandoned or hidden places in cities |
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contemporary explorer |
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explorer focused on research and discovery |
The
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“Explorer” + Preposition Patterns
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Phrase |
Explanation |
Example |
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someone who explores a place, field, or subject |
She became known as an
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someone working within a particular region or field |
As an
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Common Noun Collocations
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Phrase |
Explanation |
Example |
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journey undertaken by explorers |
The
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record kept by an explorer |
Entries from the
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group of explorers working together |
The
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path followed by explorers |
Tourists can now follow the historic
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attitude of curiosity and discovery |
Her
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Common Mistakes with “Explorer”
Discover common mistakes with this word and how to avoid them. Take a look at each example and remember the correct version.
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Why? |
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She is a great exploration.
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She is a great explorer.
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“Exploration” is the noun for the process or act. “Explorer” is the noun for the person. |
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He is explorer of Africa.
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He is an explorer of Africa.
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“Explorer” is countable and needs the article “an” in the singular. |
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The explorations went to Antarctica.
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The explorers went to Antarctica.
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People are “explorers”; the trips or journeys they make are “explorations.” |
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She is a famous explor.
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She is a famous explorer.
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The agent noun requires the full “-er” suffix: explore → explorer. “Explor” is not a word. |
“Explorer” in other languages
The etymology of “explorer” is based on the Latin term explorare, which means to explore or search into something, maybe derived from ex- (out) and plorare (cry out). The Latin etymology of the word is used in all Romance languages, thus its immediate recognizability.
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Language |
Explorer |
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explorador/a |
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explorateur/exploratrice |
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Forscher/Forscherin (scientific) / Entdecker/Entdeckerin (historical) |
