heterosexual

[het-er-uh-sek-shoo-uhl, -seks-yoo-]

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.

noun

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

heterosexual

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈsɛksjʊəl /

noun

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

adjective

1. of or relating to heterosexuality

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterosexual¹

First recorded in 1890–95; hetero- + sexual

Example Sentences

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.

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“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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Insurance companies are more likely to deny them coverage or to demand that they prove their infertility struggles than cisgender, heterosexual couples.

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What remains is a flattened, inaccurate history that centers white heterosexual Christian men as the architects of American greatness, relegating others to mere bystanders or occupying passive, supporting roles.

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The legal change, which passed in a knife-edge vote in parliament, also restricts adoption to married heterosexual couples and prohibits surrogate pregnancies.

Read more on BBC