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• 'splain
  'splain

  verb (used with or without object)

  a shortened form of explain.
• -splain
  -splain

  a combining form extracted from mansplain and meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, from the perspective of the group one identifies with,” as in

'splain

¹ American  

[spleyn] / spleɪn /

Or splain

verb (used with or without object)

Informal.

1. a shortened form of explain.

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-splain ² American  

1. a combining form extracted from mansplain and meaning “to explain or comment on something in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner, from the perspective of the group one identifies with,” as in

   racism being whitesplained to a person of color.

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of 'splain

By shortening and alteration of explain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

'splain -splain

“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

“And now I got my breaf again, I try to ’splain to you what am de row.

From Wild Adventures round the Pole The Cruise of the "Snowbird" Crew in the "Arrandoon" by Gordon Stables

Nawsuh, I sho can't 'splain de wings, but I is got my 'pinion how come dey is.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume I, Alabama Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration

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