noun
tranny
TRA-nee
noun
1
A vehicle's transmission (informal shortening).
"The mechanic said the tranny needed replacing."
2
A transistor radio (dated informal usage).
"He listened to the match on an old tranny."
How to Use Tranny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInformal slang, most commonly short for "transmission" in car mechanics.
When to use it
When used to refer to a transgender person, this word is widely considered a slur and is best avoided; use "trans person" or "transgender person" instead.
Word Forms
trannies plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tranny”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Etymology
A shortened, informal form of words beginning with "trans-" (transmission, transistor, transgender), plus the diminutive suffix -y.