transgressive

Transgressive is an adjective meaning relating to or characterized by transgression, the act of violating a law, rule, norm, or boundary. The term derives from Latin transgressus, “having stepped across,” from trans- “across” and gradi “to go, step.” In general usage, something transgressive pushes beyond accepted boundaries, often challenging social conventions or moral norms.

In social and behavioral contexts, transgressive describes actions that violate normative standards or legal rules. It is used in everyday language as well as clinical or criminological discussions to characterize conduct deemed improper, taboo, or harmful to others.

In art, literature, and media, transgressive art or transgressive fiction refers to works that deliberately push beyond conventional boundaries, often by addressing taboo subjects such as sexuality, violence, addiction, or power. The aim is to provoke thought, critique social norms, or reveal uncomfortable truths rather than to endorse the depicted acts.

In geology and sedimentology, transgressive describes sequences or processes associated with a rise in sea level that causes shoreline positions to move landward. Transgressive deposits compose part of sedimentary successions during such events.

Across disciplines, transgressive conveys the core idea of crossing limits or norms, whether social, legal, aesthetic, or geological. The term does not prescribe judgment; its interpretation depends on context and normative framework.

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