CultureAugust 17, 2026
transfeminine
tranz-FEM-uh-nin
Definition
A gender identity describing an individual, often assigned male at birth, whose gender expression or identity is significantly feminine.
Etymology
Derived from the prefix 'trans-' (across or beyond) and 'feminine' (relating to women or traits traditionally associated with them). The term emerged within LGBTQ+ communities to specifically describe gender experiences that move toward or embrace femininity regardless of sex assigned at birth.
In the news
The term is used by Dawn Heilung to describe their own identity, appearing in a list of descriptors they use to accurately encompass their complex, non-binary, and queer experience.
BUSINESS ‘Punk, intense and all-encompassing’: Chicagoan Dawn Heilung brings trans artists into focus
Read the full article ↗Windy City Times