mansplain

American  

[man-spleyn] / ˈmænˌspleɪn /

verb (used with or without object)

1. (of a man) 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.

   He was mansplaining to her about female friendships!

2. to explain something to someone in such a way.

   I know some women who are guilty of mansplaining, and even some men who mansplain patriarchy as a historical force for good.

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noun

1. Also called mansplanation.  such an explanation given to someone.

Usage

What else does mansplain mean? To mansplain is for a man to explain something to a woman in a condescending manner, particularly when the woman is an expert in the subject.

Other Word Forms

• mansplainer noun

Etymology

Origin of mansplain

First recorded in 2005–10; man + 'splain

Example Sentences

The senior Labour figure described the prime minister as being in "listening mode" and described him as a "feminist ally" who did not want to "mansplain".

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

“The one thing I learned doing this movie is don’t mansplain motherhood,” actor Scoot McNairy said onstage after Saturday’s world premiere of “Nightbitch” at the Toronto International Film Festival.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024

“We were always on the lookout for any sort of energy that ever felt like she was saying, ‘Don’t mansplain to me!’” he says.

From New York Times • Oct. 12, 2021

He’s a good uncle to my kids and I was close with him when I was younger, but whenever we talk these days, he just wants to mansplain my life to me.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2021

The comedian Jen Kirkman says in the foreword: “If you’re a dude, you may be tensing up right now and wanting to put this book down and tweet at Nicole, ‘Not all men mansplain!’

From The Guardian • Aug. 18, 2020