1
: transgender
The Affordable Care Act included trans health care in many places and that was a remarkable step in the right direction for trans people, but in some ways it still remained difficult to receive personalized and comprehensive transgender healthcare.—Alexa Corazón

Note: While the word trans has been used as a shortened version of both transgender and transsexual, the word transsexual is dated and sometimes offensive. The word transgender is preferred.

2
chemistry : characterized by having certain groups of atoms on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of a double bond or of the plane of a ring in a molecule
3
genetics : relating to or being an arrangement of two very closely linked genes in the heterozygous condition in which one mutant allele and one wild-type allele are on each of the two homologous chromosomes compare cis sense 3

trans

2 of 3

abbreviation

trans-

3 of 3

prefix

1
: on or to the other side of : across : beyond
transatlantic
2
a
: beyond (a specified chemical element) in the periodic table
transuranium
b
: trans
trans-fatty acid
compare cis- sense 2
3
: through
transcutaneous
4
: so or such as to change or transfer
transliterate
translocation
transamination
transship

Examples of trans 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.
Adjective
This order has been the basis for a host of anti-trans policies throughout the administration. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 The trans-Pacific flight that took place over a month between August and September 2026 was the most notable milestone yet for Sceye, a US aerospace company based near Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 Our first encounter with the LGBTQ+ community came in 1965, when two young trans people asked Jean-Pierre to take their picture. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 This year’s report found a clear decrease in the representation of women, nonbinary and trans people in major roles. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trans

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

(sense 1) by shortening of transgender or transsexual; (senses 2 & 3) from the prefix trans-

Prefix

Latin trans-, tra- across, beyond, through, so as to change, from trans across, beyond — more at through entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of trans was in 1892

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trans.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trans. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

trans-

prefix
1
: on or to the other side of : across : beyond
transatlantic
2
: so or such as to change in form or position or transfer
transliterate
Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin trans- "across, beyond, so as to change"

Medical Definition

1
: characterized by or having certain groups of atoms on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of a double bond or of the plane of a ring in a molecule see all-trans
2
: relating to or being an arrangement of two very closely linked genes in the heterozygous condition in which one mutant allele and one wild-type allele are on each of the two homologous chromosomes compare cis sense 2
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