WHITESPLAIN

What Does WHITESPLAIN Mean?

WHITESPLAIN means "A White Person Condescendingly Explaining Racial Issues to a Member of an Ethnic Minority."

The term WHITESPLAIN is widely used on social media and in the mainstream press to describe a white person condescendingly, unnecessarily and often incorrectly, explaining racial issues to member of an ethnic community.

WHITESPLAIN is a combination of the words "White" and "Explain." It was inspired by the term Mansplain, which has also given rise to an ever-growing list of similar terms, including:
  • Gaysplain - A gay person condescendingly explaining gay issues.
  • Grammarsplain - A grammar enthusiast condescendingly explaining the intricacies of grammar (especially to a language teacher).
  • Journosplain - A journalist condescendingly explaining a complicated issue to a subject matter expert (e.g., a scientist).
  • Queersplain - A queer person condescendingly explaining queer issues.

"Cyber Speak" Test

You now know what WHITESPLAIN means, but are you good at Cyber Speak? Well, let's see!

Summary of Key Points

"A White Person Condescendingly Explaining Racial Issues to a Member of an Ethnic Minority" is the most common definition for WHITESPLAIN on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
WHITESPLAIN
Definition:A White Person Condescendingly Explaining Racial Issues to a Member of an Ethnic Minority
Type:Word
Guessability:
2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:
Adults and Teenagers

More...

An Academic Look at WHITESPLAIN

As it is formed by merging two words into one, WHITESPLAIN is a portmanteau word. It is a combination of the words White and Explain.

WHITESPLAIN is also a neologism (i.e., a newly coined word or term which has emerged into everyday usage). Some neologisms are formally accepted into mainstream language (at which point, they cease to be neologisms), and some wither until they can longer be considered everyday terms. A neologism can be:
  • A completely new word (e.g., oversharers).
  • A new combination of existing words (e.g., digital detox).
  • A new meaning for an existing word (e.g., sick).

Example of WHITESPLAIN Used in a Text

WHITESPLAIN

Help Us Improve Cyber Definitions

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
  • Do you know a slang term that we've missed?
Please tell us using this form.

See Also

BECKY (pejorative term for a white woman) BROFLAKE (hypersensitive white male) DIGITAL BLACKFACE (use of BAME memes by white people) FIT-SPLAIN (a gym or fitness class member condescendingly explaining fitness training) JIMMIES (black people, chocolate sprinkles) KAREN (pejorative term for a white woman) KEN (pejorative term for a white male, know (Scottish)) SPLAIN (to explain (especially to explain something in a condescending manner)) STRAIGHT-SPLAIN (a straight person explaining LGBT issues to a gay person) TRUMP-SPLAIN (a supporter of former president Trump defending his record)