'splain

¹

or splain

[ spleyn ]

verb (used with or without object)

, Informal.

1. a shortened form of explain.

-splain

²

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 ladysplain whitesplain

   racism being whitesplained to a person of color.

Word History and Origins

Origin of 'splain¹

By shortening and alteration of explain

Example Sentences

“Somebody needs to ‘splain to people how hard it is to make a muon collider.”

From Science Magazine

Co-host Joy Behar, who is White, said “I don’t want to White-‘splain, you might be underestimating the Black community voter,” to which Ms. Hostin replied, “I don’t think I am.”

From Washington Times

In a 46-page decision, Ms. Graf, who is married to a corporal in the State Police who once supervised Trooper Splain, appeared to have relied extensively on the statements of the trooper and his partner about what happened that night.

From New York Times

Trooper Splain tried unsuccessfully to use his Taser; he then shot Mr. Dzwonchyk five times, twice in the head and three times in the area of his left shoulder.

From New York Times

Pier Hess Graf, the district attorney of Lebanon County, Pa., spent almost 10 months in reaching the decision not to charge Trooper Jay Splain, who last fall fatally shot a motorist who had allegedly dragged another state trooper in his vehicle.

From New York Times