cross-dressing

noun

cross-dress·​ing ˈkrȯs-ˌdre-siŋ How to pronounce cross-dressing (audio)
: the wearing of clothes designed for the opposite sex
cross-dress
ˈkrȯs-ˌdres How to pronounce cross-dressing (audio)
intransitive verb
cross-dresser
ˈkrȯs-ˌdre-sər How to pronounce cross-dressing (audio)
noun

Examples of cross-dressing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But then she was caught cross-dressing, got fired, and decided to emigrate. — Valeria Luiselli, New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2026 The Catholic Church opposed cross-dressing in laws, liturgical meetings and other writings. — Sarah Barringer, The Conversation, 27 May 2025 The spark for Dhont came with encountering a simple black-and-white photo of a soldier cross-dressing just behind enemy lines. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026 For a long time, this has included forms of cross-dressing and gender play, not as identity, but as performance, as part of a tradition that allows, briefly, for social boundaries to loosen. — Vogue, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cross-dressing

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-dressing was in 1911

Rhymes for cross-dressing

See All Rhymes for cross-dressing

Browse Nearby Words

cross-dress
cross-dressing
cross-dye
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cross-dressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-dressing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cross-dressing

noun
cross-dress·​ing
ˈkrȯs-ˌdres-iŋ
: the wearing of clothes made for the opposite sex
cross-dresser
-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cross-dressing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cross-dressing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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