TRANS Definition & Meaning

trans

[ trans, tranz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

transgender ( def ):
Their son is trans.
Laura is a trans woman.
(no longer in common use) transsexual ( def ).

noun

plural transes, (especially collectively) trans.

Usually Offensive. a person who is transgender.

trans*

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

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

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

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

trans-

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.
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. Compare cis- ( def 2 ).
Astronomy. a prefix denoting something farther from the sun (than a given planet): trans-Martian; trans-Neptunian.
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 for

transaction.
transfer.
transferred.
transformer.
transit.
transitive.
translated.
translation.
translator.
transparent.
transportation.
transpose.
transverse.

trans.

abbreviation for

transaction
transferred
transitive
translated
translator

trans-

prefix

across, beyond, crossing, on the other side
transatlantic
trans-Siberian
transoceanic
changing thoroughly
transliterate
transcending
transubstantiation
transversely
transect
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

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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. transgender.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of trans¹

First recorded in 1970–75; by shortening

Origin of trans²

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

Origin of trans³

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of trans¹

from Latin �ٰ��Բ� across, through, beyond

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Do you see any parallels to that kind of debate that the suffragists had amongst themselves and the debate we see now with Democrats who might say, you know, with immigrant rights, trans rights — we don't necessarily oppose them, but the polls for us aren't so great right now, and there are other people that need defending.

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The nation’s political thermostat is not broken, and Susan Crawford didn’t need to join the pile-on against trans folks or clap while Trump’s goon squads disappear immigrants who are here legally into Salvadoran gulags in order to win this election.

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Still, the issue of trans athletes in sports has for months been explosive in national politics.

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Instead of focusing on a real issue, they say, politicians seized on a hateful and hysterical attack on trans people to advance a larger conservative agenda.

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When she introduced her bill during the hearing, Sanchez quoted Newsom to illustrate that concerns about trans girls in sports were “not a fringe issue.”

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