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.
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noting or relating to a person who does not conform to societal gender norms or roles.
noun
adjective
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The term transgender has largely replaced the older term transsexual, which is now considered outdated, though some people within the community continue to identify with the word transsexual, especially older people.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
Etymology
Origin of transgender
Compare meaning
How does transgender compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
A recent flare-up, in late July, centered on the issue of transgender players.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Her words have instigated protests - albeit not grand in scale - on both sides of the argument, and once again catapulted the debate around transgender women in sport into the spotlight.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Frequently, when states pass laws barring transgender athletes from competition, the result can feel overwhelmingly personal to those affected, since the number of people excluded in a given state can be counted on your fingers.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
Starting a year ago, the court itself began to employ the term biological sex in equal-protection decisions in which transgender claimants challenged laws imposing requirements for gender-affirming care, passport identification, and participation in sports.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026
Pride at Work, a national coalition of gay, bisexual, and transgender workers, becomes an AFL-CIO constituency.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
