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-dichloro-ethylene

compare cis- sense 2

3

: through

transcutaneous

4

: so or such as to change or transfer

transliterate

translocation

transamination

transship

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

One of Musk’s daughters, who is trans, has reportedly severed ties with him. —Julia Malleck, Quartz, 19 Apr. 2023

Conservatives have called for a boycott of Anheuser-Busch products after Dylan Mulvaney, a trans woman hated by many conservatives simply for being trans, was sent some beer cans featuring her face on the label. —Matt Novak, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023

My partner Ebony is trans. —Ericka Hart, refinery29.com, 13 Apr. 2023

Spliced through the film are behind-the-scenes interviews with the actors themselves, all of whom are trans, as well as appearances by historian Jules Gill-Peterson, who provides additional context and narration throughout. —Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2023

Transgender people in the U.S. are facing unprecedented political and cultural oppression, including legislation in some states that would cut off access to gender-affirming care for kids and hundreds of other anti-trans bills. —Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Apr. 2023

So how many trans people are there in the United States? —Seven Graham, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2023

Curtis refers to her Oscar as they/them in support of her daughter Ruby, who is trans. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Mar. 2023

Despite being a doctor, she wasn't trained to recognize the signals a child is trans. —Olivia Krauth, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2023

See More

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

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

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