mansplaining

pp.

Explaining in a patronizing way, particularly when done by a man who combines arrogance with ignorance of the topic. [Man + explaining.]

—mansplain v.

—mansplainer n.

—mansplanation n.

Example Citations:

Folds' entirely serious songs are affecting at first but don't stand up to much scrutiny. Some of his love songs, like "Jane" and "Learn To Live With What You Are," are paragons of mansplaining, full of condescending, unsolicited advice about self-acceptance.

—L. V. Anderson, " Where Do I Start With Ben Folds?: http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/09/17/ben_folds_five_s_sound_of_the_life_of_the_mind_and_the_uncomfortable_nostalgia_of_a_grown_up_ben_folds_fan_.html," Slate, September 17, 2012

Young women subsequently added the word "mansplaining" to the lexicon. Though I hasten to add that the essay makes it clear mansplaining is not a universal flaw of the gender, just the intersection between overconfidence and cluelessness where some portion of that gender gets stuck.

—Rebecca Solnit, " Best of TomDispatch: Rebecca Solnit, The Archipelago of Arrogance: http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175584/best_of_tomdispatch%3A_rebecca_solnit%2C_the_archipelago_of_arrogance," TomDispatch, August 19, 2012

Earliest Citation:

Mansplain

To explain in a patronizing manner, assuming total ignorance on the part of those listening. The mansplainer is often shocked and hurt when their mansplanation is not taken as absolute fact, criticized or even rejected altogether.

—TheGiggler, " Mansplain: http://mansplain.urbanup.com/3916981," Urban Dictionary, April 25, 2009

Notes: Related Words:

man flu

mancation

mancession

male answer syndrome

testosteronic

Category:

Men and Women