Trans

Trans, short for transgender, is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. It encompasses a range of identities, including trans men, trans women, and nonbinary or gender-nonconforming people who do not identify exclusively as male or female. The term is distinct from cisgender, which describes people whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex. Some individuals prefer to use more specific labels (for example, trans man or trans woman) or to identify as simply nonbinary. In other contexts, trans- is also a common prefix meaning across or beyond.

A trans man is someone who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male. A trans woman is someone who was assigned male at birth but identifies as female. Nonbinary transgender people may identify as both or neither, or fall outside the traditional male/female binary. Not all transgender people pursue medical or legal steps; gender identity is separate from medical treatment.

Transition can be social (changing name, pronouns, clothing, or presentation), legal (changing name or gender markers on documents), and/or medical (hormone therapy or surgeries). Access to gender-affirming care and to legal recognition varies by country and region, and can be affected by social stigma and policy.

In everyday life, respect for a person’s self-identified name and pronouns is important. Language and terminology around trans topics continue to evolve; many communities advocate for inclusive and non-stigmatizing usage. The topic intersects with rights, health care, sport, employment, and culture, and remains the subject of ongoing policy and social debate.