Crossdresser (CD): One who wears articles of clothing usually associated with the opposite sex. Although some women do crossdress, the phenomenon, at least as far as societal interest is concerned, is more common in the male population.

Transvestite (TV): An older term used to describe a crossdresser. The word "transvestite" derives from "trans", which means cross, and "vestment", which means clothing. Most crossdressers today prefer the term "crossdresser" simply because "transvestite" seems to imply a personality or psychological disorder. In other words, "crossdresser" sounds friendlier.

Transsexual (TS): One who believes that his or her actual biological or "born" gender is opposite the one it should have been. A male transsexual, then, honestly and deeply believes that he is a "woman trapped in a male's body."

Typically, the transsexual derives no "thrill", erotic or otherwise, from merely wearing the clothing associated with the opposite biological gender. To the "male to female" transsexual, for example, the wearing of female clothing is normal and appropriate for the real gender. Though she will get a mental release or placebic suppressant of the turmoil that her condition generates in her psyche by wearing female clothing, it is generally just more natural for her, more comfortable for her both physically and mentally). So it helps her to be more comfortable with life that way: Meaning Life in the Male body with Testosterone always beating at that Female Brain. This is why she will sometimes hide as a CD.}

Pre-op TS: A transsexual who has not yet undergone the surgery required to complete the physical change of sex process. A pre-op ts may, however, be in a transition period in which he or she is living full-time as a member of the "opposite sex" and taking prescribed medication (hormones) to partially facilitate the physical sex change.

Post-op TS: A transsexual who has completed the physical change of sex process, including required surgical procedures.

Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS): The surgery required to complete the physical change of sex process.

Transgender (TG): A recently coined word meaning "cross-gender" and often used to describe both crossdressers and transsexuals.

Several recent researchers have put forth the idea of a transgender continuum in which the classic heterosexual transvestite is located at one end and the postoperative transsexual at the other.

Passing: Being able to function in public situations as a member of the gender he or she is attempting to emulate.

Read: What happens when someone notices that I am really a man trying to pass as a woman in a public situation. Bummer!

Purging: In the case of a male crossdresser, throwing away all female clothing. Usually accompanied by vows to never "dress up" again. Since most such vows are broken within 2 months, purging can be a very expensive thing for the crossdresser!

MtF: Male to female crossdresser or transsexual.

FtM: Female to male crossdresser or transsexual.

GG: Genetic girl or genetic gender. A wife, mother or girlfriend, for example.

SO: Significant other.