Terms used to describe various aspects of gender and sexuality*

Sex designated at birth/sex recorded on original birth certificate/sex assigned at birth	Sex (typically male or female) assigned/designated according to external genitalia.
Gender identity	Innate sense of feeling male, female, some combination of both, or neither.
Nonbinary gender identity	Gender identity that is neither exclusively male nor exclusively female; may be some combination of the two, something else entirely, or fluid. Other terms that may be used for nonbinary gender identity include genderqueer, gender-creative, gender-independent, bigender, noncisgender, agender, and gender blender, among others.
Gender expression	How gender is presented (eg, feminine, masculine, androgynous); gender expression does not necessarily correlate with birth-designated sex or gender identity.
Gender diversity	Variation in gender identity, expression, or gender role behavior (eg, in choices of clothing, hairstyle, toys, playmates); "gender diversity" acknowledges a spectrum of gender identities.
Transgender, trans, gender incongruence	Umbrella terms used to describe individuals whose gender identity is not strictly aligned with other biology; transgender and trans are used as adjectives ("transgender people"), not nouns ("transgenders").
Transgender man/transmasculine individual	Person with male gender identity who was recorded/designated female sex at birth.
Transgender woman/transfeminine individual	Person with female gender identity who was recorded/designated male sex at birth.
Gender dysphoria	Distress or discomfort that may occur when gender identity and other biology is not strictly aligned. This term will be discarded in ICD-11 in favor of a sexual health designation that does not require dysphoria for the label.
Transsexual	Older, clinical term that has fallen out of favor; historically, it was used to refer to transgender people who sought gender-affirming medical or surgical interventions.
Sexual orientation	An individual's pattern of physical and emotional arousal and the gender(s) of persons to whom an individual is physically, romantically, or sexually attracted (gay/lesbian, straight, bisexual). The sexual orientation of transgender people is based upon their gender identity (eg, a transmasculine individual who is attracted to other men might identify as a gay man; a transfeminine individual who is attracted to other women might identify as a lesbian).
Sexual behaviors	Specific behaviors involving sexual activities independent of traditional labeling.

* These are cultural and descriptive terms, not diagnostic terms.

References:

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644 (Accessed on October 11, 2022).
Hembree WC, Cohen-Kettenis PT, Gooren L, et al. Endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons: An Endocrine Society* Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2017.
Rafferty J, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, Committee on Adolescence, Section on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Wellness. Ensuring comprehensive care and support for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2018; 142:e20182162.

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Terms used to describe various aspects of gender and sexuality*