Dictionary

-splain en · X

Etymology

From splain, itself from explain, following the pattern of mansplain.

Meanings

1. (morpheme, slang) A suffix combined with a descriptive adjective or noun to create a verb meaning someone who fits that description condescendingly explaining something to someone who does not fit that description (especially, something the listener has more experience of).
   • You see, thinsplains Callahan, because nothing else seems to be working, we must turn to making obese people feel bad about themselves in order to shed the pounds. 2013 January 15, Dan O'Connor, “Dan Callahan Thinsplains Obesity”, in Berman Institute Bioethics Bulletin, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2014, retrieved 28 Apr 2013:
   • So please, don’t ablesplain to me. Especially when you have no idea about the context of what bigotry you’re trying to justify. 2012 December 22, Bunnika, “For reblogging: No crip has to be nice to ableists”, in Cumulative notes for the Zōon Politikon, retrieved 27 Apr 2014:
   • The PM urges 29-year-old Princeton alum O’Connor to decide immediately whether she wants a husband and children, and it sounds a lot like momsplaining to O’Connor that she definitely wants a husband and children. 2014 March 14, Katy Waldman, “Princeton Mom's One Saving Grace”, The XX Factor, in Slate, archived from the original on 19 Jul 2023:

Forms