To explain (something) condescendingly (to a female listener), especially to explain something the listener already knows, presuming that she has an inferior understanding of it merely because she is female.
Female gardener: I like to grow lettuce
Guy: You probably didn't know this but lettuce and cabbage are actually 2 different things
Female gardener: Why would you mansplain this to me, a gardener.
Guy: You probably didn't know this but lettuce and cabbage are actually 2 different things
Female gardener: Why would you mansplain this to me, a gardener.
by Fredman14 June 30, 2017
When a man comments on a woman's subject, in what he thinks is a knowledgeable way. The man may even argue that their point is the right point.
by jetjetvictoria June 30, 2017
The habit some men have of making a "well, actually" statement then re-explaining an explanation a woman has just given, adding nothing new or different to the explanation, and in fact frequently adding incorrect information.
This tends to happen a lot on subjects men consider "manly".
This tends to happen a lot on subjects men consider "manly".
Eric tried Mansplaining to Sharon, who has a Ph.d on the subject, because women don't know more than men about anything, ever.
Example: Water is wet.
Well actually, hot water is also wet. In fact, it even feels wetter.
Example: Water is wet.
Well actually, hot water is also wet. In fact, it even feels wetter.
by WomanAmused August 10, 2017
Mansplain (verb): When a man attempts to explain something to a woman in an authoritative and condescending manner, even though what is being is explained is already understood by that woman as a result of her professional expertise and/or lived experiences, due to a sexist belief that a woman always needs to be told by man how something really works, or in an attempt to undermine the seriousness of sexist behavior and reinforce male authority.
As in, “He mansplained the pain of child birth as beautiful to my sister who had just given birth to her daughter.”
Or, “Most of the Urban Dictionary definitions for mansplain are clear attempts to mansplain away a sexist way of talking to women and sexism in general."
Or, “Most of the Urban Dictionary definitions for mansplain are clear attempts to mansplain away a sexist way of talking to women and sexism in general."
by Chris inCO October 22, 2017
(Of a man) To explain something to a woman in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing. What sets mansplaining apart from a man simply explaining something or giving an opinion is that the mansplainer typically has less knowledge of the topic than the party he is explaining it to, but has assumed that because she is female she cannot comprehend the topic as well as a man could.
Exampes of what is NOT mansplaining:
1) A man explaining how to use a power tool to a woman who needs help using it.
2) A man expressing an opinion on a subjective topic or engaging in a debate with a woman about a topic about which they have similar levels of knowledge
Examples of what IS manplaining:
1) A man who has no formal knowledge of automobile repairs explaining to his female mechanic how an engine works.
2) A man who has never studied gynecology explaining to a woman how she should feel when she is on her period.
Exampes of what is NOT mansplaining:
1) A man explaining how to use a power tool to a woman who needs help using it.
2) A man expressing an opinion on a subjective topic or engaging in a debate with a woman about a topic about which they have similar levels of knowledge
Examples of what IS manplaining:
1) A man who has no formal knowledge of automobile repairs explaining to his female mechanic how an engine works.
2) A man who has never studied gynecology explaining to a woman how she should feel when she is on her period.
Female physicist: "I was giving a lecture on Thermodynamics at the university, and afterwards this guy who had taken one class on the subject pulled me aside and tried to mansplain my own theories to me."
by CrayolaCastle October 14, 2017
Mansplaining is, at its core, a very specific thing. It's what occurs when a man talks condescendingly to someone (especially a woman) about something he has incomplete knowledge of, with the mistaken assumption that he knows more about it than the person he's talking to does. A common mistake.
A man who has seen a couple superhero movies gives a long explanation of Spiderman to a woman who has read all the comics and seen all the Marvel movies. He may be right, but she doesn't need the explanation, and his assumption that she wouldn't know the basics seems offensive to her. He has mansplained Spiderman to a comic nerd.
by Well, September 14, 2017
A delightful mixture of privilege and ignorance that leads to condescending, inaccurate assertions of sexism, delivered with the rock-solid conviction of rightness and that slimy certainty that of course "he must be sexist, because he is the man in this conversation".
Man- "I just think that insults designed to undermine and ridicule one particular group of people based on their sex are are inherently unjustifiable and..."
Karen Healy- "don't mansplain "mansplaining" to me you sexist bastard!"
Karen Healy- "don't mansplain "mansplaining" to me you sexist bastard!"
by insertwittyscreenname May 19, 2017