gender transition

noun

plural gender transitions
: a process by which a transgender or nonbinary (see nonbinary sense c) person comes to live in accordance with their gender identity through changes to their appearance and presentation often with the aid of medical procedures and therapies

Note: While many associate gender transition with a process that involves hormone therapy, gender confirmation surgery and legal name change, the term is also applied more broadly, since what transition involves can vary a great deal from person to person. In some cases, for example, the term gender transition may simply refer to the adoption of new personal pronouns and/or a change in clothing, hairstyle, etc.

For transgender people who are insured, barriers to care can persist, as private insurers have historically excluded coverage for medical interventions related to gender transition.—Jaclyn M. White Hughto et al.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires women who are transgender like me to complete 12 months of hormone therapy to suppress testosterone as part of their gender transition before competing.—Lindsay Hecox

Examples of gender transition 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.
Concerned about gender transitions for children or about biological males playing on girls’ sports teams? —Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 Since 2021, 26 US states have passed laws prohibiting or restricting minors from accessing gender-affirming care, which can include medications to suppress puberty as well as other medical interventions, such as hormones to support a gender transition. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 The film is basically a buddy comedy featuring two funny people who are navigating the social aspects of a gender transition — one who is transitioning, and another figuring out how to support her. —Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Oct. 2024 Georgian Dream also launched a clamp down on LGBTQ rights, including backing an October bill that would outlaw gender transitions and could ban pride parades and displays of the rainbow flag. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gender transition 

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gender transition was in 1983

Dictionary Entries Near gender transition

gender-specific

gender transition

gender variance

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Gender transition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gender%20transition. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

gender transition

noun
: a process by which a transgender or nonbinary person comes to live in accordance with their gender identity through changes to their appearance and presentation often with the aid of medical procedures and therapies

Note: While many associate gender transition with a process that involves hormone therapy, gender confirmation surgery, and legal name change, the term is also applied more broadly, since what transition involves can vary a great deal from person to person. In some cases, for example, the term gender transition may simply refer to the adoption of new personal pronouns and/or a change in clothing, hairstyle, etc.

Gender transition can refer to social transition, physical transformation, or both. Many transgender … people do not seek medicalized assistance for transition, which can involve delays other than those created by medicine …—Victoria Pitts-Taylor, Health
Studies examining the effects of hormonal gender transition during adolescence suggest that these transgender individuals experience decreased gender dysphoria, score more favorably on various psychological instruments than transgender people treated in adulthood, and function similarly to their peers.—Deborah Coolhart et al., Journal of Marital & Family Therapy
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