Meaning of -splain | Babel Free

Definitions

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).

morpheme, slang

Examples

“So please, don’t ablesplain to me. Especially when you have no idea about the context of what bigotry you’re trying to justify.”

“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.”

“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.”

CEFR level