male-to-female

American  

[meyl-tuh-fee-meyl] / ˈmeɪl təˈfi meɪl /

adjective

1. Sometimes Offensive. noting or relating to a person who was assigned male at birth but whose gender identity or gender expression is female.

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noun

1. Sometimes Offensive. a person who was assigned male at birth but whose gender identity or gender expression is female. MTF, MtF

Sensitive Note

Male-to-female was once the accepted terminology for women who were assigned male at birth. The term continues to be used in medical literature, and some transgender people do identify that way. Especially among younger transgender people, however, trans woman is now a more popular term for this demographic. For some people, the term male-to-female can be offensive for its implication that trans women were “originally” male, and have only now become female.

Etymology

Origin of male-to-female

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

“Twenty years ago when I started practicing the ratio of male to female was 10/90, now it’s 40/60,” said Parsa.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

Patel confirmed Robinson’s partner was transitioning from male to female.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

"Over the past decade, doctors have started prescribing this drug for individuals transitioning either from male to female or female to male. In both cases, the hormonal changes can trigger hair loss," he said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2024

What could have been the reason for getting a bolt of creativity from that case, but changing the gender from male to female in his own version of it?

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2023

In plant life, bird and bee, attracted by wonderfully planned perfumes and color and honey, are called in to carry the pollen from male to female cell.

From Outwitting Our Nerves A Primer of Psychotherapy by Jackson, Josephine A.