transvestism

[ trans-ves-tiz-uhm, tranz- ]

noun

1. Psychiatry. the practice, especially of those assigned male at birth, of wearing clothing usually associated with a different gender.
2. Older Use: Often Offensive. the practice of crossdressing.

Other Words From

• trans·ves·tic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transvestism¹

First recorded in 1925–30; from German Transvestismus, from Latin trāns- trans- + vest(īre) “to clothe, dress” ( vest ( def ) ) + German -ismus -ism

Example Sentences

You talk in the book about how we've evolved in how we look about gender identity, yet "transvestism" is still in the DSM.

From Salon

Others hit back, with Nick Cohen suggesting the Telegraph review misrepresented a novel in which “transvestism barely features”.

From The Guardian

Like Dragman’s alter ego August, he discovered his transvestism after trying on a woman’s stocking that he found down the back of a sofa at the age of 19.

From The Guardian

There’s something about transvestism and drag in the Bible, I swear it.

From The Guardian

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Fake and mistaken identities are central to Shakespeare’s comedy, which touches on themes of sexual identity, transvestism, same-sex relationships and indeed the nature and value of gender itself.

From The Guardian