Admirer: a term used to describe people who are attracted to people based on their transgender identity or regardless of transgender identity. In the trans-community, it often has sexual connotations; but it can describe an ally, friend or supporter.

Assigned female at birth (AFAB): a person whose gender assignment at birth is female. (Use this term in preference to describing someone as biologically or genetically female or saying someone was 'born female at birth' as such descriptions oversimplify issues around gender.)

Assigned male at birth (AMAB): a person whose gender assignment at birth is male. (Use this term in preference to describing someone as biologically or genetically male or saying someone was 'born male at birth' as such descriptions oversimplify issues around gender.)

Binary: a societal concept that defines people as one of two genders: male or female. It excludes people who identify as non-binary or intersex.

Cisgender (often abbreviated to CIS): a term used to describe someone whose gender expression and identity corresponds with the assigned at birth. It is not used to describe transgender people. (Cis is a Latin prefix meaning the opposite of trans.)

Crossdresser: someone who wears clothing typically associated with the opposite sex. This term is commonly used to describe heterosexual men who occasionally wear female clothing, makeup and accessories. Crossdressers do not normally wish to transition or live full-time in the opposite gender.

Drag queen: a man who dresses as a woman and performs as an entertainer; their act is often an exaggerated caricature of stereotypical women.

Female-to-Male (FTM): a person assigned the female sex at birth but who identifies as male.

Full-time: someone who lives in their chosen gender on a full-time basis (24/7).

Gender assignment: this generally describes the gender to which someone is assigned at birth (male or female) based on their biological genitalia.

Gender dysphoria (sometimes referred to as Gender Identity Disorder): the inner tension and anguish trans-people often experience due to the conflict between their gender identity and their gender assignment. It is not necessary to experience gender dysphoria to be transgender.

Gender expression: describes the external manifestation of gender, for example, in dress, voice and behaviour. Typically gender expression relates to a person's gender identity rather than their gender assignment.

Gender identity: this describes a person's inner feelings of being male, female or other. Gender is a spectrum. It is not the same as a person's sexual characteristics or biological genitalia.

Gender non-conforming: someone with a gender expression that is different from conventional societal expectations of male and female. (Gender non-conforming is not the same as transgender; a person who is gender non-conforming may not identify as trans and vice-versa.)

Intersex: a person who has biological characteristics of biological attributes of both sexes (male and female). An intersex person may be male, female or non-binary.

Male-to-Female (MTF): a person assigned the male sex at birth but who identifies as female.

Misgender: using the wrong pronouns or other gender-specific words to describe someone, especially deliberately.

Non-binary: a person who does not fit with the traditional binary definition of gender (male or female). Some non-binary people reject gender identities entirely; others will identify with some aspect of binary identities.

Post-operative: someone who has completed surgery (especially relating to penis or vagina) to assist with the biological aspect of transitioning. It inaccurately suggests that surgery is a necessary part of transitioning, and the term should be used with care.

Pre-operative: someone who is awaiting surgery (especially relating to penis or vagina) to assist with biological aspect of transitioning. It inaccurately suggests that surgery is a necessary part of transitioning, and the term should be used with care.

Pronouns: if possible, ask a person which pronoun they would prefer; if this is not possible, then use the pronoun consistent with a person's appearance and gender expression. Avoid using 'he/she', 's/he', 'it' as these terms are often regarded as defamatory.

Questioning: someone who is exploring and attempting to understand their gender identity.

Sex: a combination of factors that determine whether a person is biologically male or female; factors include genitalia, chromosomes and hormone levels. Like gender, sex is a spectrum.

Sexual orientation: romantic and/or sexual attraction (or lack of romantic/sexual attraction) to other persons of the same and/or different gender. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not the same and should not be confused.

Shemale: an offensive term for a transgender person. It is also commonly used in the adult industry to describe workers such as escorts and actors/actresses who are crossdressers or transgender. Typically a shemale will retain a complete set of working male genitalia.

Tranny: a now-outdated term to describe a transvestite or transsexual, although some people may use the word to describe themselves. It is increasingly regarded as as a defamatory, vulgar and offensive term and is best avoided.

Transboy (sometimes abbreviated to T-boy): a colloquial variant to describe a transman.

Transgender: this is an umbrella term to describe people across a wide spectrum of gender identity and expression.

Transgirl (sometimes abbreviated to T-girl or TG): a colloquial variant to describe a transwoman.

Transition: the process someone goes through to move from their assigned gender to their chosen gender identity. This may involve various aspects such as gender presentation, changing name and legal and medical processes. (Note: not all transgender person choose to transition.)

Transman: a term for a male who was assigned female at birth.

Transsexual (sometimes abbreviated to trans): this is an older term but still used by some people who are in the process of changing (or have changed) their bodies to conform to their gender identity. It is still used in medical, psychological and legal contexts to describe a person who is transitioning (or has done so).

Transvestite: a now-outdated term to describe a crossdresser.

Transwoman: a term for a female who was assigned male at birth.