transgender

American  

[trans-jen-der, tranz‑] / ˌtrænsˈdʒɛn dər, ˌtrænz‑ /

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.

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noun

1. Usually Offensive. a person who is transgender.

transgender British  

/ ˌtrænzˈdʒɛndə /

adjective

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

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The term transgender has largely replaced the older term transsexual, which is now considered outdated, though some people within the community continue to identify with the word transsexual, especially older people.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

Etymology

Origin of transgender

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

Compare meaning

How does transgender compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• transgender vs. transsexual
• transgender vs. transgendered
• cisgender vs. transgender

Example Sentences

A National Park Service employee fired after hanging a transgender pride flag at Yosemite has sued several federal agencies and officials over an alleged First Amendment violation.

From The Wall Street Journal

For the handful of transgender California teens caught in the middle of the fight, it has all been deeply unnerving — if strangely motivating.

From Los Angeles Times

California rules designed to foster a minimum number of female board members—as well as ethnic and racial minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender directors—were struck down separately.

From The Wall Street Journal

A High Court judge has dismissed a legal challenge to the equality watchdog's guidance on which public or workplace toilets and changing rooms transgender people should use.

From BBC

When I was 11, I began identifying as transgender.

From The Wall Street Journal