transsexual

Sometimes tran·sex·u·al

[trans-sek-shoo-uhl, -seks-yoo-]

noun

1. a person whose gender identity does not correspond to their sex assigned at birth; transgender.

2. a person who has undergone or wants to undergo hormone therapy or surgery to align their physical characteristics more closely with their gender identity.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a person whose gender identity does not correspond to their sex assigned at birth.

transsexual

/ trænzˈsɛksjʊəl /

noun

1. a person who permanently acts the part of and completely identifies with the opposite sex

2. a person who has undergone medical and surgical procedures to alter external sexual characteristics to those of the opposite sex

Sensitive Note

The vocabulary around transsexualism originated in medical study of human sexuality. In the 1980s, transsexualism was listed as a mental illness in the manuals of the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization. Transsexual and transsexualism are generally no longer used in the medical or psychological professions, having been replaced by gender dysphoria in medical terminology. Today, the transsexual identity is perceived to fall under the wider umbrella term trans, though it is not exactly equivalent to the term transgender. Transsexual is still sometimes the preferred term among older trans people who have been using the term transsexual to describe their own identity for years. However, owing to the previous association of transsexual with a mental disorder diagnosis, and a history of disparaging use in popular culture, the term is now often considered offensive in general use, especially among younger speakers. There is also some tension between the terms transsexual and transgender, the former term associated with external and physical markers of gender identity, and the latter with internal identification along a gender continuum. Still other speakers use the two terms interchangeably. As always when using identity labels, the best choice is the one with which the person in question self-identifies. See also transgender.

Other Word Forms

• transsexuality noun
• transsexualism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of transsexual¹

First recorded in 1905–10, for an earlier sense; 1955–60 for the current senses; trans- + sexual, originally in transsexualism, coined in 1953 by German-American sexologist Harry Benjamin (1885–1986)

Example Sentences

Instead of addressing the repeated failures of law enforcement and the obvious role of firearms, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., claimed the shooter was a “transsexual leftist illegal alien.”

From Salon

The terms in question are: Gender, transgender, pregnant person, pregnant people, LGBT, transsexual, non-binary, nonbinary, assigned male at birth, assigned female at birth, biologically male, biologically female.

From Salon

The FA rules note: "Gender reassignment is one of nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, and as such transsexual people are protected against discrimination."

From BBC

He used the outdated term “transsexuals” when talking about transgender people and railed against gender-neutral bathrooms.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is a fantastic opportunity for all of us transsexuals," Segovia said, as she entered the auditorium.

From Reuters