What does "heterosexual" mean?
A heterosexual person, or other heterosexual organism.
Heterosexual
/ˌhɛtəɹəˈsɛkʃuəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A heterosexual person, or other heterosexual organism.
- Grammar: heterosexual is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: straight, amorous, breeder, carnal.
- Useful contrasts: homosexual, same-gender, same-sex.
- Usage evidence: Bonobos often use sexual behavior, sometimes homosexual, sometimes heterosexual, for social negotiation.
How to use "heterosexual"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "heterosexual" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "heterosexual" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "heterosexual" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "heterosexual" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "heterosexual" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "straight" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "heterosexual", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A heterosexual person, or other heterosexual organism.
"The laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation apply to all people, gay and straight alike. If an antistraight boss starts firing heterosexuals, they're protected."
- 2 a person having a sexual orientation to persons of the opposite sex wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex.
"Thai charter court rules that only heterosexual marriages are constitutional: Same-sex marriage in Thailand will have to wait, as the Constitutional Court ruled unanimously today (Wednesday) that Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code, defining marriage as being a union between a man and a woman, is constitutional."
- 2 Between two people of different sex.
"Early Adolescence. This is the high school period between 14 and 17 years of age. This is a confusing and stressful period for the teenager, because sexual impulses are now quite strong in spite of societal sanctions against heterosexual activity."
- 3 Having a sexual desire for the opposite sex seen as unhealthy, including a proclivity for nonreproductive sex. obsolete
Adjective
- 1 sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Bonobos often use sexual behavior, sometimes homosexual, sometimes heterosexual, for social negotiation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "heterosexual"?
Common synonyms include: straight, amorous, breeder, carnal, erogenic, erogenous.
How do you use "heterosexual" in a sentence?
Bonobos often use sexual behavior, sometimes homosexual, sometimes heterosexual, for social negotiation.
How do you pronounce "heterosexual"?
Pronounced /ˌhɛtəɹəˈsɛkʃuəl/.
Etymology
From hetero- + -sexual. Earliest citation from 1892, in C.G. Craddock's translation of Krafft-Ebbing's Psychopathia Sexualis.