transvestite

noun

trans·​ves·​tite tran(t)s-ˈve-ˌstīt 

tranz-

plural transvestites

dated, often offensive

: a person who wears clothes designed for the opposite sex : a cross-dresser

An older term for crossdresser is transvestite. Crossdressers often dress only in certain situations. They do not usually identify as transgender—most identify as straight men.

—Laura Erickson-Schroth

transvestism

tran(t)s-ˈve-ˌsti-zəm 

noun

or less commonly transvestitism

tran(t)s-ˈve-ˌsti-ˌti-zəm 

dated, often offensive

transvestite adjective dated, often offensive

Examples of transvestite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both pieces were inspired by rumors that Williams ended their affair upon learning Chandler was a transvestite. —Jordan Riefe, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2023

When a fairground sets up outside her window in a Southern Italian town 15-year-old Benedetta meets Armando, aka Amanda, a young transvestite who runs the carousel and sells drugs. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Feb. 2022

Porter in his work always flaunts the transvestite and transsexual issues that now preoccupy woke Hollywood. —Armond White, National Review, 15 Sep. 2021

Both Moore and Moxley were cast as modern-day incarnations of the late transvestite (terminology used then) and gay activist. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 21 June 2021

The show pulls heavily from the run of psychedelic writer Grant Morrison, such as including Danny the Street, a sentient, transvestite stretch of roadway. —Trevor Fraser, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Aug. 2020

More than half of those were against transvestite, transsexual and transgender women, according to the National Observatory of LGBT Hate Crimes. —NBC News, 20 Mar. 2020

First, Johnson and Rivera were transvestites, not transgender (a term that appeared only later). —Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 5 July 2019

In the '80s, Hunter experienced a strange career revival of sorts when the eccentric indie filmmaker John Waters cast him in a couple of projects opposite the transvestite performer Divine, and the films became cult classics. —Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

German Transvestit, from Latin trans- + vestire to clothe — more at vest entry 2

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above