cross-dressing
/ˌkrɒs ˈdresɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkrɔːs ˈdresɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrȯs-ˌdre-siŋ/ (ame, mw)
cross-dressing — noun
1. When someone chooses to wear clothing that society considers typical for a gende
When someone chooses to wear clothing that society considers typical for a gender different from their own, often as a form of personal expression, comfort, or identity exploration.
Cross-dressing has been part of theatrical traditions around the world for centuries.
uncountable noun as subject of sentence
Amelia enjoys cross-dressing on weekends, wearing tailored suits and polished leather shoes.
uncountable noun after 'enjoy' as activity
In the 1920s, cross-dressing in Berlin and Paris became more accepted in public.
Kwame found a local group where people discussed cross-dressing openly and shared fashion tips.
Nadia wrote a research paper about how cross-dressing challenged old ideas about clothing and gender.
- drag
More specific; refers to exaggerated, theatrical cross-dressing usually for performance
- transvestism
Older clinical term that is now often considered outdated or medicalizing
- cross-dress
Verb form of the same concept
用法筆記
Not to be confused with being transgender. Cross-dressing describes a behavior or practice, not a person's gender identity. Someone who cross-dresses may identify with any gender. The noun is almost always uncountable (do not say 'a cross-dressing').