A transsexual is a person who has decided that they want to live as a person of the opposite sex, and so has changed their name and appearance in order to do this. Transsexuals sometimes have an operation to change their sex.
transsexual in British English
or transexual (trænzˈsɛksjʊəl)
noun
1.
a person who permanently acts the part of and completely identifies with the opposite sex
2.
a person who has undergone medical and surgical procedures to alter external sexual characteristics to those of the opposite sex
adjective
3.
of or relating to a transsexual person or transsexual people
transsexual in American English
(trænsˈsekʃuːəl)
noun
1.
a person who permanently acts the part of and completely identifies with the oppositesex
2.
a person who has undergone hormone treatment and surgery to attain the physical characteristics of the opposite sex
adjective
3.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of transsexuals
Derived forms
transsexualismtranssexuality
noun
Word origin
[1955–60; trans- + sexual, orig. in transsexualism (coined in 1953)]
In other languages
transsexual
British English: transsexual NOUN
A transsexual is a person who has decided that they want to live as a person of the opposite sex.