trans

¹

[trans, tranz]

adjective

1. transgender.

   Their son is trans.

   Laura is a trans woman.

2. (no longer in common use) transsexual.

noun

plural

transes ,

plural

trans .

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

trans*

²

[trans, tranz, trans stahr, trans as-ter-isk, tranz as‐]

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.

noun

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

trans-

³

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.

trans.

⁴

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.

trans.

¹

abbreviation

1. transaction

2. transferred

3. transitive

4. translated

5. translator

trans-

²

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

Sensitive Note

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.

See trans, transgender.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trans¹

First recorded in 1970–75; by shortening

Origin of trans²

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

Origin of trans³

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of trans¹

from Latin trāns across, through, beyond

Example Sentences

I cry for Florida's trans youth.

Read more on Salon

“I am 15 years old. I knew with certainty that I am trans when I was 10 years old. When I first came out, everyone rejected me and told me it was a phase,” said one person in their written testimony.

Read more on Salon

Hughes is the most famous bridge between film and flight — producing movies and later running RKO Pictures while also founding Hughes Aircraft Co., building and flying game-changing planes and, eventually, running Trans World Airlines.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The moves have been opposed by trans rights campaigners, who argue they could violate human rights and insist inclusion should be prioritised.

Read more on BBC

The series, inspired by the autobiography of trans writer, journalist and campaigner Paris Lees, follows a teenager from a working-class town near Nottingham as they wrestle with their gender identity.

Read more on BBC