MANSPLAIN

What Does MANSPLAIN Mean?

MANSPLAIN means "A Man Condescendingly Explaining Something to a Woman."

The term MANSPLAIN is widely used in the mainstream press and on social media to describe a man condescendingly, unnecessarily and often incorrectly, explaining something to a woman.

MANSPLAIN is a combination of the words "Man" and "Explain." It is widely believed to have been inspired by a 2008 Los Angeles Times op-ed article titled "Men Who Explain Things," written by Rebecca Solnit. In the article, Solnit explained her personal experience of being patronized by a male friend (although she didn't explicitly use the term MAINSPLAIN).

The popularity of MANSPLAIN has given rise to an ever-growing list of similar terms, including:
  • Fitsplain - A gym or fitness class member condescendingly explaining fitness training.
  • Gaysplain - A gay person condescendingly explaining gay issues.
  • Journosplain - A journalist condescendingly explaining a complicated issue to a subject matter expert (e.g., a scientist).
  • Queersplain - A queer person condescendingly explaining queer issues.
  • Straightsplain - A straight person explaining LGBT issues to a gay person.
  • Trumpsplain - A supporter of former president Trump defending his record.
  • Whitesplain - A white person explaining racial issues to a member of an ethnic minority.

"Cyber Speak" Test

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Summary of Key Points

"A man condescendingly explaining women's issues to a woman" is the most common definition for MANSPLAIN on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
MANSPLAIN
Definition:A man condescendingly explaining women's issues to a woman
Type:Word
Guessability:
2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:
Adults and Teenagers

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An Academic Look at MANSPLAIN

As it is formed by merging two words into one, MANSPLAIN is a portmanteau word. It is a combination of the words Man and Explain.

MANSPLAIN is now so widely recognized that it can no longer be considered a neologism (i.e., a newly coined word or term which has emerged into everyday usage).

Example of MANSPLAIN Used in a Text

MANSPLAIN

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See Also

BEAR (large hairy man) Dietsplain (a devotee of a particular diet explaining the "scientifically-proven benefits" of their way of eating) Grammarsplain (a grammar enthusiast condescendingly condescendingly explaining the intricacies of grammar) MANDEM (gang, group of male friends) ROADMAN (a youth subculture which originated in Britain) SPLAIN (To explain (especially to explain something in a condescending manner))