heterosexual

1 of 2

adjective

het·​ero·​sex·​u·​al ˌhe-tə-rō-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl How to pronounce heterosexual (audio)
-ˈsek-shəl
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to or between people of the opposite sex
heterosexual men/women
a heterosexual couple
b
: of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between individuals of the opposite sex
2
: of or relating to different sexes
heterosexually adverb

heterosexual

2 of 2

noun

plural heterosexuals
: a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the opposite sex : a heterosexual person

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Another parent, Jess Coulter, claimed that there was bias against homosexual representation since there has not been much anger leveled at heterosexual relationship content in books. Joshua Q. Nelson, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2023 It’s evolved to be more racially, socially and culturally diverse and to expand its purview beyond heterosexual relationships. Megan Ditrolio, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2023 This is not an issue for heterosexual, cisgender couples. Jennifer Brookland, Detroit Free Press, 6 Feb. 2023 And these testing requirements also apply to women who are not in a heterosexual relationship or people with uteruses who do not identify as women. Deanna Pai, Allure, 3 Feb. 2023 For example, a heterosexual, cisgender woman could be an ally for an LGBTQ colleague. Andriana Eliadis, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022 This is also true of bonobos who indulge in homosexual and heterosexual encounters for pleasure, to maintain pair bonds or to resolve aggressive encounters. Louise Gentle, Scientific American, 16 Feb. 2023 The lack of diversity in the romance genre is obvious in the cover art itself, which largely features white and heterosexual couples. Hazlitt, 8 Feb. 2023 More than 93% identified as straight or heterosexual, 1.12% as gay and 0.81% as lesbian. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2023
Noun
One simply cannot applaud cis white heterosexual males enough for doing the bare minimum required of a human being. Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2022 Remember: Any human who didn’t fit the cultural norm (heterosexual) has spent their lives either in a form of hiding or living out loud while often endangering their emotional, physical and economic safety. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 Shifting our wider definition of family is not just about including those who are childfree or prospective parents who sit outside of the heterosexual, cis norm. Sadhbh O'sullivan, refinery29.com, 13 Feb. 2022 Adding to the sense of unreality is the utter lack, in a book teeming with brothels and game parlors, of any courtesans catering to (or anyone having) preferences other than the heterosexual. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2021 Wilde wrote as a voice from Fullerton’s London years, and Fullerton in Paris had left all that behind to become an enthusiastic heterosexual. Colm Tóibín, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 Wilde wrote as a voice from Fullerton’s London years, and Fullerton in Paris had left all that behind to become an enthusiastic heterosexual. Colm Tóibín, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 Wilde wrote as a voice from Fullerton’s London years, and Fullerton in Paris had left all that behind to become an enthusiastic heterosexual. Colm Tóibín, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020 Also, there is not a single minute of film in which Evan Hansen comes across as heterosexual, which is a problem when the main driver of the plot is Evan’s unrequited love for a girl. Kyle Smith, National Review, 23 Sep. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heterosexual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heterosexual was in 1892

Dictionary Entries Near heterosexual

Cite this Entry

“Heterosexual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterosexual. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Kids Definition

heterosexual

1 of 2 adjective
het·​ero·​sex·​u·​al ˌhet-ə-rō-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl How to pronounce heterosexual (audio)
-ˈsek-shəl
: of, relating to, or marked by sexual interest in members of the opposite sex
heterosexuality noun

heterosexual

2 of 2 noun
: a heterosexual individual

Medical Definition

heterosexual

1 of 2 adjective
het·​ero·​sex·​u·​al ˌhet-ə-rō-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsek-shəl How to pronounce heterosexual (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to or between individuals of the opposite sex
b
: of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between individuals of the opposite sex
sexual relationships between individuals of opposite sexes are heterosexualA. C. Kinsey
2
: of or relating to different sexes

heterosexual

2 of 2 noun
: a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the opposite sex : a heterosexual individual

More from Merriam-Webster on heterosexual

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