transsexual

adjective

trans·​sex·​u·​al (ˌ)tran(t)s-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl 

-shəl

variants or less commonly transexual

dated, often offensive

: of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity differs from the sex the person was identified as having at birth : transgender

Note: Transsexual is a dated term that is sometimes used in self-reference but that may give offense when used by others. The term transgender is preferred.

transsexual noun

or less commonly transexual

dated, often offensive

transsexualism

(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wə-ˌli-zəm 

-shə-ˌli-

noun

or less commonly transexualism

dated

transsexuality

(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

noun

or less commonly transexuality

dated

Examples of transsexual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trolls started spamming tags like #gaypride, #ableism, #transsexual, and #depression. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2022

The cast includes Elliot Page, whose character comes out as transsexual in the new season. — oregonlive, 2 June 2022

Becker has even gotten offers to do a couple of movies, one of them about Renée Richards, the transsexual tennis player. — Angela Gaudioso, SPIN, 22 May 2022

So this character, whether explicitly trans or not, is coded as a transsexual, transvestite. — Marley Gotterer, Them., 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

transsexual

adjective

trans·​sex·​u·​al

variants also transexual

(ˈ)tran(t)s-ˈsek-sh(ə-)-wəl, -ˈsek-shəl 

dated, often offensive

: transgender : of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is opposite the sex the person was identified as having at birth

Note: Transsexual is a dated term that may be used in self-reference but should be avoided by others. Use transgender instead.

transsexual noun

also transexual

transsexualism noun

also transexualism

-wə-ˌliz-əm, -shə-ˌliz- 

transsexuality noun

also transexuality

-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

plural transsexualities also transexualities