transgender

[trans-jen-der, tranz‑]

adjective

1. 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.

2. noting or relating to a person who does not conform to societal gender norms or roles.

noun

1. Usually Offensive.,  a person who is transgender.

transgender

/ ˌtrænzˈdʒɛndə /

adjective

1. of or relating to a person who wants to belong to the opposite sex

Sensitive Note

The term transgender has largely replaced the older term transsexual, which is now considered outdated, though some people within the community continue to identify with the word transsexual, especially older people.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

• transgendered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transgender¹

First recorded in 1970–75; trans- + gender ¹

Example Sentences

IOC presidential candidate Seb Coe also said he would explore a total ban on transgender female athletes competing in women’s events at the Games.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Her lawyers said in a court filing last month that she is transgender and goes by the name Sophie.

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In a pair of cases from Idaho and West Virginia, it will consider whether states can ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams.

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In expressing Black trans joy at a time when transgender people face systematic exclusion and repression all over the world, Liniker provides a window to understand fuller and more diverse Latinx realities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He’s also campaigning to be one of the worst by disavowing progressive stances, such as support for transgender rights.

Read more on Salon