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Definition of mansplainer

mansplainer

/ˈmænˌspleɪ.nɚ/
man · splain · er
Plural:mansplainers
•
Adjective:mansplaining
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mansplainer Lexical Profile

mansplainer Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A man who explains something to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending, overconfident, or patronizing.

Example

"She politely interrupted the mansplainer to remind him that she had authored the textbook he was quoting."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mansplainer

Word Nuance & Usage

Used strictly as an informal, derogatory term to criticize condescending behavior, particularly in gender-related contexts.

• Nearby Words

mansion
manslaughter
mansplain
mansplainer
mansplaining
manspread
manspreader

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 2000s as a blend of "man" and "explainer," inspired by Rebecca Solnit's 2008 essay "Men Explain Things to Me."

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mansplainer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mansplainer
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