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heterosexual
[ het-er-uh-sek-shoo-uhl or, especially British, -seks-yoo- ]
/ ˌhɛt ər əˈsɛk ʃu əl or, especially British, -ˈsɛks yu- /
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adjective
of, relating to, or exhibiting heterosexuality, sexual desire or behavior directed toward people of the other binary gender.
Biology. of or relating to different sexes: heterosexual fraternal twins.
noun
a person who is sexually or romantically attracted primarily to people of the other binary gender.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Words nearby heterosexual
heteroptics, heteroromantic, heteroscedastic, heterosex, heterosexism, heterosexual, heterosexuality, heterosis, heterosocial, heterosporous, heterospory
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use heterosexual in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for heterosexual
heterosexual
/ (ˌhɛtərəʊˈsɛksjʊəl) /
noun
a person who is sexually attracted to the opposite sex
adjective
of or relating to heterosexuality
Compare homosexual
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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