heteronormative

American  

[het-er-uh-nawr-muh-tiv] / ˌhɛt ər əˈnɔr mə tɪv /

adjective

1. noting or relating to behavior or attitudes consistent with traditional male or female gender roles and the assumption of heterosexuality as the norm.

   our heteronormative culture.

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Other Word Forms

• heteronormativity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of heteronormative

First recorded in 1990–95; hetero(sexual) ( def. ) + normative ( def. )

Example Sentences

Roan’s lipstick gone “awry” on her teeth brings a camp sensibility to both mock and celebrate feminine performance that resists traditional heteronormative constructs.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Many of them are quite gender fluid, and that’s great, but the heteronormative girls are interesting because they want to be financially solvent.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

Interestingly, the girls that I overhear speaking about romantic relationships, many of them are not in heteronormative relationships.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

It says a lot about the staid state of masculinity that men want the same heteronormative version of handsome that has defined male beauty standards for years.

From Slate • Sep. 21, 2024

But why is the platform's large Gen Z audience, known for going against heteronormative standards, celebrating a number of gender-based online trends?

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2023