heterosexuality

American  

[het-er-uh-sek-shoo-al-i-tee, -seks-yoo-] / ˌhɛt ər əˌsɛk ʃuˈæl ɪ ti, -ˌsɛks ju- /

noun

1. sexual desire or behavior directed toward people of the other binary gender.

2. the state of being sexually attracted only to the other binary gender.

---

heterosexuality British  

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. sexual attraction to or sexual relations with a person or persons of the opposite sex Compare homosexuality

---

heterosexuality Cultural  

1. Sexual attraction between a male and a female. (Compare bisexuality and homosexuality.)

---

Etymology

Origin of heterosexuality

First recorded in 1895–1900; hetero- + sexuality

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heterosexuality

These dynamics are not exclusive to monogamy or heterosexuality.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

“Being LGBTQ, having those labels, does not remove your stupidity, just like heterosexuality does not remove your stupidity,” she told Vanity Fair.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2025

But this book isn’t interested in gender, or heterosexuality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2025

It created space for women to ask the question: Why should they sacrifice their happiness to save the institution of heterosexuality?

From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2024

On leaving the university his heterosexuality asserted itself normally.

From Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 Sexual Inversion by Ellis, Havelock