What does -splain mean? The combining form -splain is used like a suffix meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending or overconfident manner.” It is occasionally used in slang terms. In most instances, the first element of the word describes the perspective of the "explainer," e.g., mansplain. The form -splain comes from the word mansplain, meaning “to explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, typically to a woman already knowledgeable about the topic.” The form -splain in this sense is extracted from explain.
By shortening and alteration of explain
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Somebody needs to ‘splain to people how hard it is to make a muon collider.”
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 8, 2023
Evans wanted to ’splain himself in secret before his colleagues cast a public vote, probably next week.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 15, 2019
“Mrs. Dowdel, let me ’splain something to you,” the sheriff bawled.
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
It was no use for me to 'splain or 'spostulate.
From Hidden Hand by Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
Nex' time 'e comes," said Kipps, "I'll 'splain to him.
From Kipps The Story of a Simple Soul by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)
While the politics guys were arguing, other Slatesters busied themselves sorting out cultural phenomena: The useful suffix -splain, which “tried to contain too many ideas and popped like a balloon.”
From Slate ● Feb. 26, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
