"intense desire to change one's sexual status, including the anatomical structure," 1953, coined by U.S. physician Harry Benjamin (1885-1986) from trans- + sexual. Transsexuality is recorded from 1941, but was used at first to mean "homosexuality" or "bisexuality."
The desire to change one's anatomic sexual characteristics to conform physically with one's perception of self as a member of the opposite sex.
transsexual
[trăns-sĕk′shōō-əl]
n.
A person who strongly identifies with the opposite gender and who chooses to live as a member of the opposite gender or to become one by surgery.
adj.
Of or relating to such a person.
Relating to medical and surgical procedures designed to alter a person's external sexual characteristics so they resemble those of the opposite gender.
