trans

1 of 3

adjective

ˈtran(t)s  ˈtranz 

1

: transgender

The Affordable Care Act included trans health care in many places and that was a remarkable step in the right direction for trans people, but in some ways it still remained difficult to receive personalized and comprehensive transgender healthcare.

—Alexa Corazón

Note: While the word trans has been used as a shortened version of both transgender and transsexual, the word transsexual is dated and sometimes offensive. The word transgender is preferred.

2

chemistry : characterized by having certain groups of atoms on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of a double bond or of the plane of a ring in a molecule

3

genetics : relating to or being an arrangement of two very closely linked genes in the heterozygous condition in which one mutant allele and one wild-type allele are on each of the two homologous chromosomes compare cis sense 3

trans

2 of 3

abbreviation

1

transaction

2

transitive

3

translated; translation; translator

4

transmission

5

transportation

6

transverse

trans-

3 of 3

prefix

1

: on or to the other side of : across : beyond

transatlantic

2

a

: beyond (a specified chemical element) in the periodic table

transuranium

b

: trans

trans-fatty acid

compare cis- sense 2

3

: through

transcutaneous

4

: so or such as to change or transfer

transliterate

translocation

transamination

transship

Examples of trans in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Because genre and gender come from the same root, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich has chosen a trans-genre approach to write a transgender story. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025

The case was brought forth by the anti-trans organization For Women Scotland (FWS), which reportedly received £70,000 (roughly $88,200) worth of donations from Rowling herself in 2024. —Abby Monteil, Them., 5 Dec. 2025

Linehan has been behind some of the biggest British comedies of all time but in recent years has mostly devoted his time to anti-trans activism. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2025

In 2025 alone, 88 federal and over 1,000 state anti-trans bills have been introduced that restrict access to health care, education, employment and basic human rights. —Pamuela A Halliwell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

(sense 1) by shortening of transgender or transsexual; (senses 2 & 3) from the prefix trans-

Prefix

Latin trans-, tra- across, beyond, through, so as to change, from trans across, beyond — more at through entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing trans

• trans exclusionary radical feminism
• trans-fat
• trans man
• trans woman

Rhymes for trans

• banns
• bans
• cans
• clans
• fans
• franz
• ganz
• glans
• mans
• pans
• plans
• rans

Kids Definition

trans-

prefix

1

: on or to the other side of : across : beyond

transatlantic

2

: so or such as to change in form or position or transfer

transliterate

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin trans- "across, beyond, so as to change"

Medical Definition

trans

adjective

ˈtran(t)s  ˈtranz 

1

: characterized by or having certain groups of atoms on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of a double bond or of the plane of a ring in a molecule see all-trans

2

: relating to or being an arrangement of two very closely linked genes in the heterozygous condition in which one mutant allele and one wild-type allele are on each of the two homologous chromosomes compare cis sense 2