Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A person who dresses in a style or manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A person who sometimes wears clothes traditionally worn by and associated with the opposite sex; typically a male who cross-dresses occasionally by habit or compulsion.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone who adopts the dress or manner or sexual role of the opposite sex
  • adjective receiving sexual gratification from wearing clothing of the opposite sex

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[German Transvestit : Latin trāns-, trans- + Latin vestīre, to dress; see travesty.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin trans- + vestite, form of vestiō ("I clothe, I dress") (as in English vestment, vest). Literally, a "cross-dresser".

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Examples

  • Bonnie also said: "When the term transvestite is applied to a virtual environment, however, it takes on a different meaning."

    Virtual Transvestitism: An Introduction 2006

  • With a hint of a Québécois accent and impeccable French on the occasions he pulls it out, Gareth Potter carves out a strong, central performance as the title transvestite, who is really four layers of character pancaked on top of each other.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed J. KELLY NESTRUCK 2011

  • Actually, it's worse than that because the Japanese transvestite is now leading Whitman by seven points in the polls.

    Lightning Fill In The Blank 2010

  • I had used the word transvestite and Glasgow in the post because one of the housemates was errrr... a transvestite from Glasgow.

    Archive 2007-11-01 2007

  • I had used the word transvestite and Glasgow in the post because one of the housemates was errrr... a transvestite from Glasgow.

    Strange search referrers 2007

  • I watched an episode of PBS “Nature” the other day about how so called transvestite male cuttlefish, since they mimic females, managed to be more reproductively successful than the ordinary males.

    Crackergate Sean 2008

  • For the night I was known as a transvestite named Elijah, due to my very manly voice.

    sierrazen Diary Entry sierrazen 2006

  • I've been bullied my entire life for not looking a certain way, especially because of who my sisters are and how they look — and he's the one writing 'transvestite' over my face or 'fugly' over my body.

    Khloe Kardashian Says She's "Proud" of Scott Disick — and 5 Other Big Reveals 2010

  • He got his way in other instances, too: though the censors made only a mild fuss about the toilet, there was a much bigger one about the graphic nature of Marion's murder and the use of the word "transvestite" during the shrink's closing monologue.

    The Mother of All Horror Films 2010

  • Morrison has said in at least one interview that the song has nothing to do with any kind of transvestite - at least as far as he knows, he is quick to add - but that's bullshit.

    Archive 2009-02-01 Fresca 2009

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