Origin: Latin prefix trans-
Transvestite has 3 different meanings across 2 categories:
someone who adopts the dress or manner or sexual role of the opposite sex
"The transvestite attended the masquerade ball dressed in a tuxedo to enjoy the performance aspect of cross-dressing."
A person who sometimes wears clothes traditionally worn by and associated with the opposite sex; typically a male who cross-dresses occasionally by habit or personal choice.
"After work, he changed into his wife's favorite dress to spend an evening at the theater as a transvestite."
In plain English: A transvestite is someone who enjoys wearing clothes traditionally associated with the opposite gender, though this term is now considered outdated and often offensive compared to more respectful words like cross-dresser or drag performer.
"The community gathered to support their friend who was coming out as a transvestite for the first time."
Usage: The term transvestite is now considered outdated and potentially offensive, so it should be replaced with preferred terms like transgender or non-binary depending on context. When describing someone who wears clothing of another gender for expression rather than to change their sex assigned at birth, use cross-dresser instead.
receiving sexual gratification from wearing clothing of the opposite sex
"The term transvestite describes a person who receives sexual gratification from wearing clothing of the opposite sex, though modern usage often prefers more inclusive terms like cross-dresser."
The word comes from Latin trans and vestitus, literally meaning "cross-dresser." It entered English via the German term Transvestitismus, which was coined in 1910 by Magnus Hirschfeld.