Transsexual

Transsexual is an older term for a person whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth and who seeks to permanently transition, often through hormones and gender-affirming surgery. It gained wide use in medical and legal settings from the mid-20th century, shaped by figures like endocrinologist Harry Benjamin. Today it is generally understood as a subset of the broader word transgender, and most style guides recommend transgender instead. Many trans people find transsexual overly clinical or tied to a narrow, binary, surgery-focused view of transition. Others, particularly some older individuals or those in specific communities, still claim it with pride. Because usage is personal, follow the term each individual uses for themselves.