transgender

[ trans-jen-der, tranz‑ ]

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.

noun

1. Usually Offensive. a person who is transgender.

transgender

/ ˌtrænzˈdʒɛndə /

adjective

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

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The term transgender has largely replaced the older term transsexual, which is now considered outdated, though some people within the community continue to identify with the word transsexual, especially older people.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

Derived Forms

• ˌtransˈgendered, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transgender¹

First recorded in 1970–75; trans- none + gender ¹none

Example Sentences

Trump’s threat to deny federal funding to schools that acknowledge transgender identities could affect curricula and the kinds of books school libraries stock.

From Los Angeles Times

The people who watched Trump’s television ads during sporting events had not been harmed by a transgender person, or by an immigrant, or by a woman of color.

From Salon

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., said Wednesday that he is banning transgender individuals from accessing bathrooms on the House side of the Capitol complex that match their gender identity.

From Salon

Throughout his campaign, Trump promised to cut funding to any school that teaches critical race theory or “transgender insanity,” as well as schools with vaccine or mask requirements.

From Salon

“Her comedic beats were on point,” said Sahar, also a transgender woman of color known for her performance as Lulu Abundance in the award-winning FX series “Pose.”

From Los Angeles Times