trans

¹

[trans, tranz]

adjective

1. transgender.

   Their son is trans.

   Laura is a trans woman.

2. (no longer in common use) transsexual.

noun

plural

transes ,

plural

trans .

1. Usually Offensive.,  a person who is transgender.

trans*

²

[trans, tranz, trans stahr, trans as-ter-isk, tranz as‐]

adjective

1. of or relating to people with gender expressions outside traditional norms, as transgender, genderqueer, agender, or nonbinary: campus groups that welcome trans* students.

   important trans* issues;

   campus groups that welcome trans* students.

noun

1. Usually Offensive.,  a person with a gender identity outside traditional gender norms.

trans-

³

1. a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin (transcend; transfix ); on this model, used with the meanings “across,” “beyond,” “through,” “changing thoroughly,” “transverse,” in combination with elements of any origin: transisthmian; trans-Siberian; transempirical; transvalue.

2. Chemistry.,  a prefix denoting a geometric isomer having a pair of identical atoms or groups on the opposite sides of two atoms linked by a double bond.

3. Astronomy.,  a prefix denoting something farther from the sun (than a given planet): trans-Martian; trans-Neptunian.

4. a prefix meaning “on the other side of,” referring to the misalignment of one’s gender identity with one's sex assigned at birth: transgender.

trans.

⁴

abbreviation

1. transaction.

2. transfer.

3. transferred.

4. transformer.

5. transit.

6. transitive.

7. translated.

8. translation.

9. translator.

10. transparent.

11. transportation.

12. transpose.

13. transverse.

trans.

¹

abbreviation

1. transaction

2. transferred

3. transitive

4. translated

5. translator

trans-

²

prefix

1. across, beyond, crossing, on the other side

   transoceanic

   trans-Siberian

   transatlantic

2. changing thoroughly

   transliterate

3. transcending

   transubstantiation

4. transversely

   transect

5. (often in italics) indicating that a chemical compound has a molecular structure in which two groups or atoms are on opposite sides of a double bond Compare cis-

   trans-butadiene

Sensitive Note

The terms transgender and trans are generally accepted as interchangeable. However, some people prefer the shortened adjective trans to avoid any reference to assigned sex or binary gender in this inclusive identity label. Many transgender people prefer writing trans compounds as two words, as in trans man, trans woman, and trans person. When so written as an open compound with a space, trans functions as an adjective modifying a noun such as man. Spelling these words as closed or hyphenated compounds, as in transmale and trans-people, loses the distinction between trans as a descriptive adjective and man, woman, or person as a human being. Similarly, cis male and cis female are the preferred spelling of these terms. See also transgender.

See trans, transgender.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trans.¹

First recorded in 1970–75; by shortening

Origin of trans.²

First recorded in 2000–05; by shortening of transgender ( def. )

Origin of trans.³

From Latin, combining form of trāns (adverb and preposition) “across, beyond, through”

Word History and Origins

Origin of trans.¹

from Latin trāns across, through, beyond

Example Sentences

Giving evidence on the second day of his trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, Mr Linehan said: "Trans activists have spent the last 10 years demonising anyone who stands up to them."

From BBC

“As a whole, trans people have not had the opportunity to really have our own historical understanding of who we are,” Bell says.

From Los Angeles Times

With 46 tracks by approximately 100 artists — including many trans and nonbinary musicians along with big names such as André 3000, Jeff Tweedy, Clairo and Perfume Genius — “Transa” sets down intimate stories of experience and allyship so that they might be “honored and remembered and live far beyond the present moment,” as Bell puts it.

From Los Angeles Times

Says the activist: “Trans people are just trying to live our lives.”

From Los Angeles Times

Geiger, who is trans and whose career encompasses her own records as well as songwriting and production work for the likes of Pink and the Chicks, says “Transa” embodies “the idea that trans lives, which inevitably become politicized, are about more than struggle.”

From Los Angeles Times