heterosexual

American  

[het-er-uh-sek-shoo-uhl, -seks-yoo-] / ˌhɛt ər əˈsɛk ʃu əl, -ˈsɛks yu- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or exhibiting heterosexuality, sexual desire or behavior directed toward people of the other binary gender.

2. Biology. of or relating to different sexes.

   heterosexual fraternal twins.

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noun

1. a person who is sexually or romantically attracted primarily to people of the other binary gender.

heterosexual British  

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈsɛksjʊəl /

noun

1. a person who is sexually attracted to the opposite sex

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adjective

1. of or relating to heterosexuality

Etymology

Origin of heterosexual

First recorded in 1890–95; hetero- + sexual

Example Sentences

“The Boy Next Door,” which Garland made famous in the 1944 film “Meet Me in St. Louis,” tells a tale of heterosexual longing hiding in plain sight.

From Los Angeles Times

A recent report from the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee described the increase in the number of heterosexual women of all ages contracting the disease as "alarming".

From BBC

Projections suggest the global surrogacy market will exceed $129 billion by 2034—fueled not only by men but also by heterosexual couples with fertility challenges.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Within that material was this maternal guilt and this discrepancy in domestic labor tasks in heterosexual couples that, to me, is just this huge issue,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

The significance is not lost on Nuñez, who happens to be a married heterosexual man and father to a teenage daughter.

From Los Angeles Times