Standard Lemma guide

explornography

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • rhymes with -ɒɡɹəfi

1

noun

Meaning 1

A fascination with historic explorations, particularly by reenacting them.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, humorous, uncountable

Examples

  • 1998, John Tierney, “Explornography: The Vicarious thrill of Exploring When There's Nothing Left to Explore”, The New York Times Magazine, July 26, section 6, page 18+ Age of Exploration has been succeeded by the Age of Explornography
  • 2002 March, Elizabeth Haiken, Artificial Parts, Practical Lives (multiple authors), page 171, NYU Press A core sample taken from the refuse pile reveals...Gore-Tex, that miracle fiber of “explornography”, then, a layer of Teflon and several layers of silicone solids

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Blend of explore + pornography, coined by columnist John Tierney.