A trans man (sometimes trans-man or transman) is a transgender person who was assigned female at birth but whose gender identity is that of a man. The label of transgender man is not always interchangeable with that of transsexual man, although the two labels are often used in this way. Transgender is an umbrella term that includes different types of gender variant people (including transsexual people). Many trans men choose to undergo surgical or hormonal transition, or both (see sex reassignment therapy), to alter their appearance in a way that aligns with their gender identity more appropriately or alleviates gender dysphoria.
Although the literature indicates that most trans men identify as heterosexual, trans men, not unlike cisgender men, can identify as any sexuality, such as homosexual, gay, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, asexual, demisexual, etc., and some trans men might consider conventional sexual orientation labels inadequate or inapplicable to them.
The term trans man is used as a short form for either identity (transsexual man and transgender man). This commonly referred to as female-to-male (FTM or F2M). Trans men may identify as transsexual, as transgender, neither, or both.Transgender man is an umbrella term that may include anybody who was assigned female at birth (called AFAB), but identifies as male. For instance, some androgynous, bigender, and genderqueer people might identify as transgender. Because transgender is an umbrella term, it can be imprecise and does not always describe specific identities and experiences.Transmasculine is a general, broader term for individuals who were assigned female at birth but identify closer to the masculine (or male) side of the gender spectrum.