The following is a list of some of the more common terms & their definitions that you will come across in relation to Transgender people.
It’s worth noting that language is constantly changing and evolving so please treat this list as a guide rather than absolutes.
Androgyny
The combination of masculine and feminine characteristics into an ambiguous form, in relation to either Assigned Sex, gender identity, or gender expression.
Assigned Sex
Often seen as a number of acronyms such as AMAB / AFAB / ASAB / AGAB (Assigned Male / Female / Sex / Gender at Birth). This reflects the socially constructed practice of somebody else (i.e. a doctor, midwife or medical professional) determining a person’s identity based on observation of visible genitalia, and that assignment being used to determine your identity and social roles in the future. As a “rule of thumb” this process of assignment appears to work for most people, but it does not work for everyone.
Binary
Male / Female or Man / Woman – nothing in between, two options only. This is the assumed basis on which UK (and by extension, western) society is constructed, and is one of the root causes of gender stereotyping, strict gender roles and gender expressions which stem from Assigned Sex.
Cisgender
A person who's individual experienced gender and assigned sex does match. “Cis” comes from Latin (meaning same as / same side as) - so “Same gender as Sex assigned at birth”
Deadnaming
To refer to a person using their former (or legal) name. Can cause great discomfort to a trans person, often creating instances of profound Gender Dysphoria.
Gender Dysphoria
The discomfort or distress caused by the mismatch between an individual’s experienced gender and their assigned sex. Gender Dysphoria takes many forms, and varies from trans person to trans person. For some people this can feel like their genitalia is “wrong” or “does not belong”. For others it can feel like the person reflected in the mirror is not “you”. It can manifest in response to either physical or social conditions - such as being forced to assume a gender role opposite to your identity (i.e attending a family function as a “man” when you are a trans woman).
Gender Identity
Umbrella term for the personal conception or experience of oneself, as either male, female, neither or some combination of both. Thought to originate with Robert Stoeller circa 1964
Gender Incongruence
This is the official terminology for someone being “transgender”, as defined in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD11). Defined as “A marked and persistent incongruence between an individual’s experienced gender and their assigned sex”, it replaces the previous “Gender Identity Disorder” from the ICD10, and moves categories from Mental Health to Sexual Health.
Gender Neutral
The idea that policies, language, and other social institutions should avoid distinguishing roles according to people's sex or gender.
Intersex
A person born with a reproductive anatomy that doesn't seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.
Intersex is not a cause of someone being transgender, but there is a well known overlap between the intersex and transgender communities.
In other words, some intersex people are transgender, and some transgender people are intersex - but do not assume all trans people are intersex. Intersex people are around 1.7% of the population based on current estimates, making intersex variances more common than red hair or green eyes.
Misgendering
To refer to a person using a word, especially a pronoun or gendered form of address (such as Sir or Madam), that does not correctly reflect the person’s identified gender. Can cause great discomfort to a trans person, often creating instances of profound Gender Dysphoria. When done deliberately, misgendering is a common form of transphobia.
Non - Binary
Gender identities that exist in between or outside of the Binary, and also a gender identity in itself.
Best described as a general term for identities that are not exclusively or wholly male or female.
Non-Binary is not Androgyny nor Gender Neutral.
Transgender
A person who's individual experienced gender and assigned sex does not match. “Trans” comes from Latin (meaning across / across from) - so “Opposite or different gender to Sex assigned at birth”
Transphobia
The intense dislike of, or prejudice towards transgender people, such as Aversion, Fear, Anger, Hatred, Discomfort or Violence that are felt or expressed towards people who do not conform to society's gendered expectations . Most people think of transphobia as just being insulting or using slurs, but it is often much more subtle than that. It can also include backhanded compliments, deliberate misgendering or deadnaming, avoiding associating with trans colleagues, denying trans people exist and working to remove transgender rights. A great working guide can be found here : https://www.transactual.org.uk/transphobia