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heterosexism

American  
[het-er-uh-sek-siz-uhm] / ˌhɛt ər əˈsɛk sɪz əm /

noun

  1. a prejudiced attitude or discriminatory practices against gay people by heterosexuals.

heterosexism British  
/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈsɛkˌsɪzəm /

noun

  1. discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, practised by heterosexuals against homosexuals

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • heterosexist noun

Etymology

Origin of heterosexism

First recorded in 1980–85; hetero(sexual) + sexism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Slogans like “Black Is Beautiful” and “We’re Here, We’re Queer, Get Used to It!” became transformative taunts for generations of people schooled in the self-loathing of racism, sexism and heterosexism.

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2016

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.