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• trans*
  trans*

  adjective

  of or relating to people with gender expressions outside traditional norms, as transgender, genderqueer, agender, or nonbinary: campus groups that welcome trans* students.
• trans
  trans

  adjective

  transgender.
• trans-
  trans-

  a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin (transcend; transfix ); on this model, used with the meanings “across,” “beyond,” “through,” “changing thoroughly,” “transverse,” in combination with elements of any origin: transisthmian; trans-Siberian; transempirical; transvalue.
• trans.
  trans.

  abbreviation

  transaction.

trans*

¹ American  

[trans, tranz, trans stahr, trans as-ter-isk, tranz as‐] / træns, trænz, ˈtræns ˈstɑr, ˈtræns ˈæs tər ɪsk, ˈtrænz ˈæs‐ /

adjective

1. of or relating to people with gender expressions outside traditional norms, as transgender, genderqueer, agender, or nonbinary: campus groups that welcome trans* students.

   important trans* issues;

   campus groups that welcome trans* students.

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noun

1. Usually Offensive. a person with a gender identity outside traditional gender norms.

trans ² American  

[trans, tranz] / træns, trænz /

adjective

1. transgender.

   Their son is trans.

   Laura is a trans woman.

2. (no longer in common use) transsexual.

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noun

• transes,
  plural
• trans
  plural

1. Usually Offensive. a person who is transgender.

trans- ³ American  

1. a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin (transcend; transfix ); on this model, used with the meanings “across,” “beyond,” “through,” “changing thoroughly,” “transverse,” in combination with elements of any origin: transisthmian; trans-Siberian; transempirical; transvalue.

2. Chemistry. a prefix denoting a geometric isomer having a pair of identical atoms or groups on the opposite sides of two atoms linked by a double bond.

3. Astronomy. a prefix denoting something farther from the sun (than a given planet): trans-Martian; trans-Neptunian.

4. a prefix meaning “on the other side of,” referring to the misalignment of one’s gender identity with one's sex assigned at birth: transgender.

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trans. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. transaction.

2. transfer.

3. transferred.

4. transformer.

5. transit.

6. transitive.

7. translated.

8. translation.

9. translator.

10. transparent.

11. transportation.

12. transpose.

13. transverse.

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trans. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. transaction

2. transferred

3. transitive

4. translated

5. translator

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trans- ² British  

prefix

1. across, beyond, crossing, on the other side

   transoceanic

   trans-Siberian

   transatlantic

2. changing thoroughly

   transliterate

3. transcending

   transubstantiation

4. transversely

   transect

5. (often in italics) indicating that a chemical compound has a molecular structure in which two groups or atoms are on opposite sides of a double bond Compare cis-

   trans-butadiene

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Sensitive Note

See trans, transgender.

The terms transgender and trans are generally accepted as interchangeable. However, some people prefer the shortened adjective trans to avoid any reference to assigned sex or binary gender in this inclusive identity label. Many transgender people prefer writing trans compounds as two words, as in trans man, trans woman, and trans person. When so written as an open compound with a space, trans functions as an adjective modifying a noun such as man. Spelling these words as closed or hyphenated compounds, as in transmale and trans-people, loses the distinction between trans as a descriptive adjective and man, woman, or person as a human being. Similarly, cis male and cis female are the preferred spelling of these terms. See also transgender.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• trans
  plural
• transes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trans*¹

First recorded in 2000–05; by shortening of transgender ( def. )

Origin of trans²

First recorded in 1970–75; by shortening

Origin of trans-³

From Latin, combining form of trāns (adverb and preposition) “across, beyond, through”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trans* trans trans- trans.

The title role was written for the trans singer Lucia Lucas, but her worn baritone made little of Mr. Picker’s vocal writing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

"This is because the party's restrictions on access run counter to Unison's policy on trans equality."

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

But I have never once said that I hated the trans community.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

"I have never once said I hated the trans community... I think there's space for everyone," she said, before the Fever's 123-88 win over the Connecticut Sun in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

“I’m not sure if you know this about me, because I don’t advertise it, but I’m a trans man,” he began.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

The title role was written for the trans singer Lucia Lucas, but her worn baritone made little of Mr. Picker’s vocal writing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

A Unison spokesperson said that the union disagreed with how the law was being interpreted to exclude trans people.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Williamson, who is nonbinary and identifies under the trans umbrella, said it is “already very scary being openly queer in Perris,” where the Harry Potter experience is hosted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

"I have never once said I hated the trans community... I think there's space for everyone," she said, before the Fever's 123-88 win over the Connecticut Sun in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Now researchers think these hydrogenated trans fats in margarine are actually worse for our hearts than butter.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Less than forty years elapsed between the Portuguese settlement of São Tomé and Príncipe and the first trans- Atlantic voyages of African captives who were sold into slavery in the Americas.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

The prefix trans- still implies movement, change, transition, which is a valid component of identity for many transgender individuals.

From Slate ● May 14, 2018

We ultimately got Charlie’s case trans- ferred to juvenile court, where the shooting was adjudicated as a juve- nile offense.

From MSNBC ● Oct. 22, 2014

She said the talks centered on certification for the long-haul, trans- oceanic flights for which the jet was marketed.

From BusinessWeek ● Dec. 27, 2010

This exquisite, this extravagant, this trans- cendent piece of architecture is the most joyous ut- terance of the French Renaissance.

From A Little Tour in France by Henry James

“But it would be years before I came out as gay, years before I came out as trans. Narratives have been my way of exploring those identities, even as allegory.”

From New York Times ● Jun. 30, 2023

"So you're trans. Weird way to come out, but good on you," new product strategy & development professional Tom Coates added.

From Salon ● Dec. 29, 2022

“I don’t want a cop pulling me over and knowing I’m trans. That is why I changed my gender marker extremely quickly” after transitioning, she said.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 14, 2022

By Ai Weiwei, trans. by Allan H. Barr Crown: 400 pages, $32 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2021

Eshenbaugh, J.; June 10, '61; trans. to 190th; pris.,

From In The Ranks From the Wilderness to Appomattox Court House by R. E. McBride