transgender
Americanadjective
-
noting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond to that person’s sex assigned at birth: She identifies as transgender.
The organization supports transgender rights.
She identifies as transgender.
-
noting or relating to a person who does not conform to societal gender norms or roles.
noun
adjective
Sensitivity
The term transgender has largely replaced the older term transsexual, which is now considered outdated, though some people within the community continue to identify with the word transsexual, especially older people. Transgender is a less clinical term, referring more to gender identity and gender expression than to physical sex characteristics or sexual orientation. It is also a more general and inclusive term: a transgender person may be nonbinary, gender-fluid, genderqueer, third gender, etc. Use of transgender as a noun (One of my colleagues is a transgender ) is declining and is usually taken as offensive. And many people object to the adjectival variant transgendered (One of my colleagues is transgendered ) because the –ed suffix seems to imply that something happened to make the person transgender. See also trans, transsexual.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of transgender
Compare meaning
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Explanation
A person who does not identify with conventional gender roles or identities might describe himself or herself using the adjective transgender. A transgender person is someone who doesn't quite fit the ideas of gender that are culturally considered "normal." Most often, someone who identifies as transgender feels that he or she was born into the wrong gender — for example, a boy who feels strongly that he is actually female. In some cases, a transgender person switches genders. The key to this word is the Latin prefix trans, which means "across," but also "beyond."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nobody mentioned that the real transgender advocacy group named inside it had disavowed the mailer.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026
The justices will soon consider the case of Alishea Sophia Kingdom, a transgender woman who’s incarcerated in the federal prison system.
From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2026
Other issues he wanted addressed include the full recognition of same-sex marriage, same-sex couples' rights to adopt children, and the restoration of the right of transgender people to change their names in official documents.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham appeared at Missouri’s homecoming game with a hat bearing a slogan that seemed to imply that transgender women are not actually women.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
A transgender woman is someone who currently identifies as female.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
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