DictionaryAI

tranny

noun
TRA-nee/ˈtɹæ.ni/

Pluraltrannies

5 meanings of tranny

Practice

  1. 1
    car gearsnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
    The part of a car or truck that changes the gears.

    Our van's tranny broke, so we couldn't drive home.

    Dad is fixing the tranny in his old truck this weekend.

    UsageSay transmission in writing; this word is also a slur.

    Similartransmission, gearbox

  2. 2
    transgender personnounslangderogatoryoffensiveslurcountable or uncountable
    A rude and hurtful slang word for a transgender person, especially a trans woman.

    UsageSay trans woman or transgender person instead.

    Note
  3. 3
    electrical transformernouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
    An electrical transformer, which changes electricity to a higher or lower voltage.

    My train set needs a new tranny before it will run.

    The tranny on the power pole blew up in the storm.

    UsageSay transformer; this word is also a slur.

    Similartransformer

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    radionouncolloquialCommonwealthcountable or uncountable
    A transistor radio, often small enough to carry around.

    Grandpa took his tranny to the beach to hear the footy.

    We listened to music on a little tranny in the tent.

    Similartransistor, radio

    Note
  2. 5
    noundialectalNorthern England
    A Ford Transit, a kind of van.

Practice

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Origin

A short, casual form of several different words that begin with trans-, such as transmission, transistor and transgender.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts