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• hetero
  hetero

  adjective

  of or relating to an atom other than carbon, particularly in a cyclic compound.
• hetero-
  hetero-

  a combining form meaning “different,” “other,” used in the formation of compound words.
• hetero–
  hetero–

  A prefix that means “different” or “other,” as in heterophyllous, having different kinds of leaves.

hetero

¹ American  

[het-uh-roh] / ˈhɛt əˌroʊ /

adjective

1. Chemistry. of or relating to an atom other than carbon, particularly in a cyclic compound.

2. Informal. heterosexual.

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noun

heteros plural

1. Informal. a heterosexual person.

hetero- ² American  

especially before a vowel, heter-.

1. a combining form meaning “different,” “other,” used in the formation of compound words.

   heterocyclic.

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hetero ¹ British  

/ ˈhɛtərəʊ /

noun

1. short for heterosexual

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hetero- ² British  

combining form

1. other, another, or different Compare homo-

   heterodyne

   heterophony

   heterosexual

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hetero– Scientific  

1. A prefix that means “different” or “other,” as in heterophyllous, having different kinds of leaves.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• heteros
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hetero¹

First recorded in 1930–35 hetero for def. 2; hetero def. 1 by shortening of heteroatom; hetero defs. 2, 3 by shortening of heterosexual; see -o

Origin of hetero-²

Combining form of Greek héteros the other of two, other, different

Example Sentences

I had not known – had never considered – whether he was hetero- or homosexual, single or in a relationship.

From The Guardian • Mar. 26, 2017

Whose sexuality isn't scary and muddled, hetero- or homo- or in between, as a teen or at middle age?

From Time Magazine Archive

Some of these hetero- styled plants are completely sterile with pollen taken from the same plant or from the same form.

From The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication — Volume 2 by Darwin, Charles