transvestite
noun
trans·ves·tite tran(t)s-ˈve-ˌstīt 
tranz-
: a person who wears clothes designed for the opposite sex : a cross-dresser
An older term for crossdresser is transvestite. Crossdressers often dress only in certain situations. They do not usually identify as transgender—most identify as straight men.
Laura Erickson-Schroth
Laura Erickson-Schroth transvestism
tran(t)s-ˈve-ˌsti-zəm
noun or less commonly transvestitism
tran(t)s-ˈve-ˌsti-ˌti-zəm
transvestite adjective
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web When a fairground sets up outside her window in a Southern Italian town 15-year-old Benedetta meets Armando, aka Amanda, a young transvestite who runs the carousel and sells drugs. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Feb. 2022 Porter in his work always flaunts the transvestite and transsexual issues that now preoccupy woke Hollywood. Armond White, National Review, 15 Sep. 2021 Both Moore and Moxley were cast as modern-day incarnations of the late transvestite (terminology used then) and gay activist. Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 21 June 2021 The show pulls heavily from the run of psychedelic writer Grant Morrison, such as including Danny the Street, a sentient, transvestite stretch of roadway. Trevor Fraser, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Aug. 2020 More than half of those were against transvestite, transsexual and transgender women, according to the National Observatory of LGBT Hate Crimes. NBC News, 20 Mar. 2020 First, Johnson and Rivera were transvestites, not transgender (a term that appeared only later). Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 5 July 2019 In the '80s, Hunter experienced a strange career revival of sorts when the eccentric indie filmmaker John Waters cast him in a couple of projects opposite the transvestite performer Divine, and the films became cult classics. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2018 Jesus Christ, Harriet Tubman and a transvestite fairy are all involved in the mystery thriller, opening March 1. Sarah Bahr, Indianapolis Star, 9 July 2018 See More
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Feb. 2022 Porter in his work always flaunts the transvestite and transsexual issues that now preoccupy woke Hollywood. Armond White, National Review, 15 Sep. 2021 Both Moore and Moxley were cast as modern-day incarnations of the late transvestite (terminology used then) and gay activist. Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 21 June 2021 The show pulls heavily from the run of psychedelic writer Grant Morrison, such as including Danny the Street, a sentient, transvestite stretch of roadway. Trevor Fraser, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Aug. 2020 More than half of those were against transvestite, transsexual and transgender women, according to the National Observatory of LGBT Hate Crimes. NBC News, 20 Mar. 2020 First, Johnson and Rivera were transvestites, not transgender (a term that appeared only later). Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 5 July 2019 In the '80s, Hunter experienced a strange career revival of sorts when the eccentric indie filmmaker John Waters cast him in a couple of projects opposite the transvestite performer Divine, and the films became cult classics. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2018 Jesus Christ, Harriet Tubman and a transvestite fairy are all involved in the mystery thriller, opening March 1. Sarah Bahr, Indianapolis Star, 9 July 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
German Transvestit, from Latin trans- + vestire to clothe — more at vest entry 2
First Known Use
1911, in the meaning defined above