Cambridge Dictionary Includes 'Transgender' in the Meaning of 'Woman'

Additional Explanation of 'Adults Who Identify Themselves as Women'
Definition of 'Female' Also Changed in Merriam-Webster Dictionary in the U.S.

If you look up "woman" in the Cambridge Dictionary, it also includes the definition "an adult who identifies herself as a woman." Photo by Cambridge

[Asia Economy Reporter Bora Lee] The Cambridge Dictionary, published by the University of Cambridge in the UK, has changed the definition of "woman" to include transgender individuals.

On the 13th (local time), the British daily The Times reported that the Cambridge Dictionary revised the definition of "woman," meaning an adult female, to include transgender people.

According to the report, in October, the Cambridge Dictionary added the explanation "an adult human female" as the primary meaning of "woman."

It then added a second meaning: "an adult who may have been known as having a different sex at birth but who lives and identifies as a woman."

The dictionary also added a similar explanation to the definition of "man," meaning an adult male, including "an adult human male" and "an adult who may have been known as having a different sex at birth but who lives and identifies as a man."

The Cambridge University Press explained the reason for revising the gender definitions by stating, "The dictionary editors carefully examined the actual usage of words and made their decision," adding, "The new definitions are also important for English learners to know."

They further stated, "The Cambridge Dictionary is for English learners," and "We regularly update the dictionary to reflect changes in actual English usage."

This is not the first time the dictionary's definitions have changed. In July, the American Merriam-Webster Dictionary added the phrase "having a gender identity opposite to that of a man" as a supplementary definition for "female," meaning a woman, The Times reported. By mentioning "gender identity," it extends beyond physical characteristics to include transgender individuals who identify as female within the definition of "female."