Jump to:

• '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.

---

-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.

---

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