A trans woman, short for transgender woman, is a woman who was assigned male at birth but has a female gender identity. This means that her gender identity does not match the sex she was assigned at birth. Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity or gender expression are different from those typically associated with members of the sex they were assigned at birth. Trans women may experience gender dysphoria, which is a feeling of discomfort or distress that can occur when a persons gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth.

It is important to treat trans women with respect and refer to them according to their gender identity, not their sex assigned at birth. For example, if a person lives as a woman today, she should be referred to as "she" and "her". Trans women may choose to medically transition to the sex with which they identify, usually through sex reassignment therapies, such as hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery, to align their body with their identified sex or gender.

It is also important to note that not all transgender people identify as either a man or a woman. Some people have a gender that blends elements of being a man or a woman, or a gender that is different than either male or female. Some people dont identify with any gender, and some peoples gender fluctuates over time. Transgender people may also have different sexual orientations, just like cisgender people.