mansplaining
Mansplaining (noun) means the act of a man explaining something to a woman in a condescending way, typically assuming she knows less about it than she does. Example: “He spent ten minutes mansplaining her own research paper back to her.”
How to Use Mansplaining
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhen a man explains something to a woman as if she could not possibly already know it.
Informal and often pointed; common in journalism, social media and conversation but rare in formal writing.
It follows the same pattern as other blends built on "man-", such as manspreading, and is used both as a noun and as a verb.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He spent ten minutes _____ her own research paper back to her.
Etymology
A blend of man and explaining, formed in the early 21st century.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for mansplaining
See all rhymes for mansplaining →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between mansplaining and just explaining?
Explaining is offering information someone wants or lacks. Mansplaining is offering it unasked, in a superior tone, to someone who already knows the subject, often better than the speaker does.
Can a woman mansplain?
The word specifically describes a man's behaviour towards a woman, so it is not usually applied to women. For the same behaviour without the gender element, people say "talking down" or "being condescending".
Is mansplaining an insult?
It is a criticism rather than a slur. Calling something mansplaining accuses the speaker of being patronising, so it tends to be received as a sharp rebuke.