Definition:
When a woman attempts to tell a man how his brain works and what the motivations behind his various thoughts, words and actions are; in spite of the fact that her interpretations are based in her own hyper-sensitive paranoia; whilst his explanation is based on the fact that he knows what he meant better than she does.
Common traits in observation:
Most commonly observed after a woman accuses a man of misogyny for a typically irrational reason.
The womansplainer well never admit to a man that she is actively choosing the interpretation that most demonises him; no matter how contrived that interpretation may be. She may however, concede to a more intelligent and reasonable woman that she 'misunderstood' him; so as to risk further losing face, whilst denying personal accountability. However, the more juvenile womansplainer will pout and angrily declare that the more rational woman is 'a traitor to women everywhere!' for pointing out her stupidity and prejudice
When a woman attempts to tell a man how his brain works and what the motivations behind his various thoughts, words and actions are; in spite of the fact that her interpretations are based in her own hyper-sensitive paranoia; whilst his explanation is based on the fact that he knows what he meant better than she does.
Common traits in observation:
Most commonly observed after a woman accuses a man of misogyny for a typically irrational reason.
The womansplainer well never admit to a man that she is actively choosing the interpretation that most demonises him; no matter how contrived that interpretation may be. She may however, concede to a more intelligent and reasonable woman that she 'misunderstood' him; so as to risk further losing face, whilst denying personal accountability. However, the more juvenile womansplainer will pout and angrily declare that the more rational woman is 'a traitor to women everywhere!' for pointing out her stupidity and prejudice
Example:
Guy 1: God, that girl's stupid! Doesn't she know Barbie isn't a good choice of role model!
Girl: Typical man! Can't handle the threat of an iconic, confident female character! You have to demean it! Can't let young girls have self-confidence, can we!?
Guy 1:....Barbie dolls have unrealistic body proportions and encourage materialism and superficiality.
Girl: Yeah but...You just can't handle confident, happy women, can you!? Misogynist!
Guy 1: What!?.. how do you even!?...
Guy 2: Ignore her dude, she's a womansplainer.
Guy 1:ohhhhhhh...*ignores*
Guy 1: God, that girl's stupid! Doesn't she know Barbie isn't a good choice of role model!
Girl: Typical man! Can't handle the threat of an iconic, confident female character! You have to demean it! Can't let young girls have self-confidence, can we!?
Guy 1:....Barbie dolls have unrealistic body proportions and encourage materialism and superficiality.
Girl: Yeah but...You just can't handle confident, happy women, can you!? Misogynist!
Guy 1: What!?.. how do you even!?...
Guy 2: Ignore her dude, she's a womansplainer.
Guy 1:ohhhhhhh...*ignores*
by Quackers McKnightington July 03, 2012
(pronounced: woo m-uhn- spleyn)
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
Guy: "Why are you getting so angry? So I forgot to take out the trash today. Big deal!"
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
by Giant105 February 28, 2011
(pronounced: woo m-uhn- spleyn)
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
-verb (used with or without object)
to give an explanation for the motivation behind a certain action or statement that has nothing to do with the current situation but rather is related to something else that has happened very long ago in the past
Guy: "Why are you getting so angry? So I forgot to take out the trash today. Big deal!"
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
Girl: "The reason I'm so angry is because you always do stuff like this! Like the time we went to dinner and we ran into your ex-girlfriend, but you didn't introduce me! I felt so embarrassed and awkward but you didn't even care!"
Guy: "What??? What does that have to do with anything? Besides, that happened a year ago!"
Girl: "OMG, you are sooo frustrating! I shouldn't have to explain everything to you! You just don't get it!"
Guy: "Wow..."
Guy's Friend later at a bar after hearing the story: "Dude, you just got womansplained."
Guy: "Yep."
by giant105 March 14, 2011
To passive-aggressively suggest a motivation behind a certain action or statement that has next to nothing to do with the current situation or with reality generally, but which instead is related to another event or statement that took place days, if not weeks or years earlier.
While eating a meal cooked for me by my girlfriend, I asked why she seemed so bitter. She womansplained that she was upset with me for having refused her mother's offer for seconds on her caserole, 2 years earlier.
by don quixote454545 March 01, 2011
When a female qualifies a confident response for the sole purpose of protecting the male ego.
Example 1: Corporate Environment
Male: I have a great idea. I can't believe we've never done this before.
Womansplain: I think we discussed something kind of similar about a year ago. I'm not sure I remember exactly what we decided, but maybe there were some problems with that idea and the local laws? I can see if I can find emails about it if you would like. (Translation: You presented the same bad idea last year and nothing has changed.)
Example 2: Home Environment
Man: Amazon doesn't do same day delivery in our area.
Woman: Sure they do.
Man: I know they do some places, but not in our area yet.
Womansplain: Maybe we should google it. I thought our neighbor mentioned using their same day delivery, but maybe I misunderstood what she was saying. Or maybe it's recently changed? (Translation: I'm 100% sure because my friend next door uses it ALL THE TIME.)
Example 1: Corporate Environment
Male: I have a great idea. I can't believe we've never done this before.
Womansplain: I think we discussed something kind of similar about a year ago. I'm not sure I remember exactly what we decided, but maybe there were some problems with that idea and the local laws? I can see if I can find emails about it if you would like. (Translation: You presented the same bad idea last year and nothing has changed.)
Example 2: Home Environment
Man: Amazon doesn't do same day delivery in our area.
Woman: Sure they do.
Man: I know they do some places, but not in our area yet.
Womansplain: Maybe we should google it. I thought our neighbor mentioned using their same day delivery, but maybe I misunderstood what she was saying. Or maybe it's recently changed? (Translation: I'm 100% sure because my friend next door uses it ALL THE TIME.)
by Sharkie771 May 12, 2016
(of a woman) explain (something) to someone, typically a man, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing.
Cindy, clearly and vehemently irritated by my lack of interest, angrily proceeded to womansplain to me the difference between her close friends, good friends, friends, coworkers, acquaintances and frenemies.
by 2BFair December 28, 2019
The tendency of some women to mistakenly believe that they automatically know more about any given topic than does a man and who, consequently, proceed to explain to him- correctly or not- things that he already knows.
Man A: When he started womansplaining to me what it really meant to be a man in the 21st century, I got up and left.
Man B: Really, what else could you do?
Man B: Really, what else could you do?
by equality advisor June 11, 2013