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

Examples of trans in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Carmen was already an icon then, and Gisele was an 18-year-old trans girl who felt bullied and ostracized by those in her community. —Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2023

Earlier this summer, Anheuser-Busch drew fire online over an advertising partnership with the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, while retailers such Kohl’s, Nike, North Face, PetSmart and Walmart have also faced criticism for stocking gay and trans-friendly items. —Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2023

And what does data tell us about how many trans people there are in the U.S.? —Politifact Staff Writer, Dallas News, 17 July 2023

In the coal trade, Russia has since mid-May boosted transport along the trans-Baikal railway that connects to China’s border city Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia. —Bloomberg, Fortune, 20 July 2023

More than 75 of those bills ultimately passed, including limitations on trans youth athletes who wish to compete in school sports, and the first-ever laws restricting public performances of drag. —Nico Lang, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2023

The far bigger problem, Erickson-Schroth says, is access: Some trans people who do want therapy will struggle to access it. —WIRED, 7 July 2023

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

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

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

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

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