trans

adjective \ ˈtran(t)s , ˈtranz \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of trans

1 a : 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

b : transsexual

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 3

Recent Examples of trans from the Web

There are no requirements in Connecticut, as there are at the NCAA, for example, for a trans female athlete to be undergoing hormone therapy.

— lori riley, courant.com, "Coaches, Parents Question Policy For High School Transgender Athletes," 5 June 2018
When Nathan Levitt was in nursing school, there was little knowledge of trans health among the medical community.

— NBC News, "#Pride30: Nurse Nathan Levitt is dedicated to improving transgender health," 31 May 2018
Plus, they are compensated by some strikingly original plots involving trans life.

— matthew gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "From FX’s Ryan Murphy, a striking ‘Pose’," 30 May 2018
In it, Peterson calmly fields questions from trans students who are angry about his refusal to recognize their gender identity.

— zack beauchamp, Vox, "Jordan Peterson, the obscure Canadian psychologist turned right-wing celebrity, explained," 21 May 2018
There are still no firm start dates for the flights because the airline is awaiting formal approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate the longer trans-Pacific service, a process that could take up to a year to complete.

— lori weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego one of first cities to get Hawaii flights on Southwest," 4 May 2018
Without exception, no self-respecting gay man or trans woman would wear tea-length after 8 p.m.!) CMS decided to pull the book, for fear of spooking our kooky legislature.

— billy maddalon - contributing columnist, observer editorial board, charlotteobserver, "'Values' bullies are killing LGBTQ children | Charlotte Observer," 3 May 2018
The impending ban shouldn't come as a surprise, seeing how trans-fat consumption and usage has greatly decreased in recent years.

— rebecca deczynski, Woman's Day, "U.S. Moves to Ban Trans Fats," 8 Nov. 2013
The bill would make New Hampshire the 20th state with civil rights protections that cover trans people.

— german lopez, Vox, "New Hampshire’s legislature just passed a bipartisan bill protecting transgender people," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trans.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of trans

1892

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

trans

abbreviation

Definition of trans

1 transaction

2 transitive

3 translated; translation; translator

4 transmission

5 transportation

6 transverse

trans-

prefix

Definition of trans-

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-dichloro-ethylene

— compare cis- 2

3 : through

transcutaneous

4 : so or such as to change or transfer

transliterate

translocation

transamination

transship

See trans- defined for English-language learners

See trans- defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of trans-

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

TRANS Defined for English Language Learners

trans-

prefix

Definition of trans- for English Language Learners

: on or to the other side of : across or beyond
: so as to change in form or position

TRANS Defined for Kids

trans.

abbreviation

Definition of trans. for Students

transitive

trans-

prefix

Definition of trans- for Students

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

transatlantic

2 : so as to change or transfer

transplant

Medical Dictionary

trans

adjective \ ˈtran(t)s , ˈtranz \

medical Definition of trans

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 2