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The term transgender has largely replaced the older term transsexual, which is now considered outdated, though some people within the community continue to identify with the word transsexual, especially older people.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

The guidance says that if a transgender person is excluded from a space, the organisation should consider alternatives and that it would not be proportionate to leave the person without essential services, such as toilets.

From BBC

Disclosing that a student is transgender “without the student’s permission may violate California’s anti-discrimination law by increasing the student’s vulnerability to harassment and may violate the student’s right to privacy,” the guidelines stated.

From Los Angeles Times

Members of the transgender community and others who have changed their names were also happy as the new options let them distance themselves from their former names.

From Los Angeles Times

“Hospitals should never be forced to choose between providing lifesaving care to transgender young people and delivering critical services like cancer treatment to other patients,” Hollendoner said.

From Los Angeles Times

Translucent, a transgender advocacy group, said the report makes clear that "trans healthcare is in crisis" and called for more trained trans-people to be involved in designing and running gender care services.

From BBC