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.

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heterosexuality British  

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˌsɛksjʊˈælɪtɪ /

noun

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

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heterosexuality Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of heterosexuality

First recorded in 1895–1900; hetero- + sexuality

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heterosexuality

But perhaps more to the point: If heterosexuality is so great, why does it require a sales pitch at all?

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026

Febos works to dismantle heteronormative stereotypes about love and sex in this book, quoting writer Sara Ahmed: “When you leave heterosexuality, you still live in a heterosexual world.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2025

Because, unlike straight male comics of the ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond, Jost demonstrates a straight guy who isn’t at all concerned with establishing his heterosexuality in Yang’s presence.

From Salon ● Feb. 17, 2025

In the three decades since Martin's study, Almeling said, scholars and advocates have increasingly challenged the presumption of heterosexuality and the categorization of bodies as either male or female.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2023

Be this as it may, homosexuality takes place under a different set of biological and social expectations than do heterosexuality and other forms of sexuality.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin