splain

Splain is a verb meaning to explain something in a condescending or patronizing way, especially to someone presumed to be less knowledgeable or less entitled to input. In practice, splaning is often linked to power dynamics in gendered discourse, where the explainer appears to speak down to the listener, minimize their experience, or ignore their perspective. The term is used in both everyday speech and online commentary.

Etymology and scope: Splain is a shortened form of explain and is widely connected to mansplaining, a concept describing men explaining to women in a patronizing manner. Splain is used more broadly to describe patronizing explanations by anyone, though the gendered frame remains common. The word surfaced in English-language online discourse in the 2010s and has since become a familiar descriptor in discussions of feminism and media analysis. It can function as a verb (to splain) and, less commonly, as a noun (a splanation).

Usage and examples: The term is often invoked in discussions of workplace interactions, politics, technology, or cultural debates where a listener’s experience or expertise is discounted. Examples might include someone offering an overly confident, simplified explanation of a topic to someone who is already knowledgeable or who has expressed discomfort with the explanation. The label is sometimes contested and can be used rhetorically in partisan contexts.

Reception and criticism: Some scholars and commentators view splain as a useful shorthand for calling out patronizing behavior and signaling of power in communication. Others argue that it can derail constructive discussion or be applied too broadly, reducing complex disagreements to a single motive. As with related terms such as mansplain, its effectiveness depends on context and intent.