Etymologically
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trans

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 02:34. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /tɹænz/[1]

Etymology

It is a clipping, at different times, of translation, transmission, transgender and transsexual, all formed with trans-.[2][3][4] In chemistry it is an independent use of the prefix trans-, from Latin trāns (“across”).[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A translation, in American use: about 1877 in the OED and Etymonline.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

In chemistry, of a molecule with certain atoms or groups on opposite sides of a double bond or ring, it is from 1892, opposed to cis.[6][7][5] In Australia the Trans was the train across the Nullarbor Plain from Adelaide to Perth, recorded from 1918, and short for transcontinental from 1937.[8][3] A car's transmission is from 1954.[3][2] As an adjective, transgender or transsexual, it is from 1981 in the HTOED, at first of transsexualism or transvestism and now usually of transgender identity;[9] Green's Dictionary of Slang records the noun, a transgender person, in 1998.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 1877 – a translation (US).[3]
  • 1892 – in chemistry.[6]
  • 1918 – the Trans, an Australian train.[8]
  • 1954 – a car's transmission.[3]
  • 1981 – transgender.[9]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. (informal) transgender or transsexual.
  2. (chemistry) Having certain atoms or groups on opposite sides of a double bond or ring in a molecule.

Noun

  1. (informal) A transgender person.
  2. (US, informal) The transmission of a car.

Word family

  • trans fat
  • transgender
  • transsexual
  • transvestite
  • trans-
  • cis

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  5. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  7. ^ Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. (1961), Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam
  8. ^ a b c Green, Jonathon (2010), Green's Dictionary of Slang, London: Chambers; digital ed. 2016–, https://greensdictofslang.com
  9. ^ a b Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)