transsexual

adjective

trans·​sex·​u·​al (ˌ)tran(t)s-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl 

-shəl

variants or less commonly transexual

dated, often offensive

: transgender : of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is opposite the sex the person was identified as having at birth

Note: Transsexual is a dated term that is sometimes used in self-reference but that may give offense when used by others. The term transgender is preferred.

transsexual noun

or less commonly transexual

dated, often offensive

transsexualism

(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wə-ˌli-zəm 

-shə-ˌli-

noun

or less commonly transexualism

dated

transsexuality

(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌsek-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

noun

or less commonly transexuality

dated

Examples of transsexual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people were incarcerated and killed by the Nazis — a fate only publicly recognized decades after WWII. —Dallas News, 27 Jan. 2023

The drastic proposal to reclassify prizes aligns with the media’s transsexual agenda. —Armond White, National Review, 4 Jan. 2023

A week and a half before our interview, Gentili and I found ourselves at the wedding ceremony of two mutual friends (the transsexual wedding of the century, honestly) held on the outdoor dance floor at the Ridgewood club Nowadays. —Harron Walker, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2022

The scans showed that the non-transsexual male and female brains differed in various ways. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

transsexual

adjective

trans·​sex·​u·​al

variants also transexual

(ˈ)tran(t)s-ˈsek-sh(ə-)-wəl, -ˈsek-shəl 

dated, often offensive

: transgender : of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is opposite the sex the person was identified as having at birth

Note: Transsexual is a dated term that may be used in self-reference but should be avoided by others. Use transgender instead.

transsexual noun

also transexual

transsexualism noun

also transexualism

-wə-ˌliz-əm, -shə-ˌliz- 

transsexuality noun

also transexuality

-ˌsek-shə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

plural transsexualities also transexualities