heterosexuality

American  

[het-er-uh-sek-shoo-al-i-tee, -seks-yoo-] / ˌhɛt ər əˌsɛk ʃuˈæl ɪ ti, -ˌsɛks ju- /

noun

1. sexual desire or behavior directed toward people of the other binary gender.

2. the state of being sexually attracted only to the other binary gender.

---

heterosexuality British  

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. sexual attraction to or sexual relations with a person or persons of the opposite sex Compare homosexuality

---

heterosexuality Cultural  

1. Sexual attraction between a male and a female. (Compare bisexuality and homosexuality.)

---

Etymology

Origin of heterosexuality

First recorded in 1895–1900; hetero- + sexuality

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heterosexuality

But this book isn’t interested in gender, or heterosexuality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2025

It created space for women to ask the question: Why should they sacrifice their happiness to save the institution of heterosexuality?

From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2024

In that movement, some Korean women are declaring they will "boycott" what they see as the four pillars of heterosexuality: dating, marriage, sex and childbirth.

From Salon ● Nov. 13, 2024

He likes what he likes, and if you think his taste is weird, he finds conventional heterosexuality to be even weirder.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2024

Be this as it may, homosexuality takes place under a different set of biological and social expectations than do heterosexuality and other forms of sexuality.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---