het·ero·sex·u·al
ˌhe-tə-rō-ˈsek-sh(ə-)wəl 
-ˈsek-shəl
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to or between people of the opposite sex
heterosexual men/women
a heterosexual couple
b
: of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between individuals of the opposite sex
2
: of or relating to different sexes
plural heterosexuals
: a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the opposite sex : a heterosexual person
Examples of heterosexual in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
Media reports suggest the vast majority of them have been heterosexual couples who cannot have children themselves.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 17 Oct. 2024
Amy Dickinson, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2024
The woke, progressive, intersectional, diversity, equity and inclusion mindset is a path to disaster for our nation, and especially for Jews, Asians and white male heterosexuals who are excluded from their zero-sum game.
—Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heterosexual 
Adjective
While heterosexual couples in the UK and elsewhere have used it for years, experts have noticed more long-term heterosexual couples in the US adopting the gender-neutral term as well.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
Media reports suggest the vast majority of them have been heterosexual couples who cannot have children themselves.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
Try it for the next year or so: Stop being a heterosexual to demonstrate to your son that a person’s sexuality is a matter of choice – to be dictated by one’s parents, the parents’ church and social pressure.
—Amy Dickinson, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2024
The woke, progressive, intersectional, diversity, equity and inclusion mindset is a path to disaster for our nation, and especially for Jews, Asians and white male heterosexuals who are excluded from their zero-sum game.
—Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heterosexual
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heterosexual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near heterosexual
Cite this Entry
“Heterosexual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterosexual. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heterosexual
1 of 2 adjective
het·ero·sex·u·al
ˌhet-ə-rō-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl
-ˈsek-shəl
: of, relating to, or marked by sexual or romantic attraction to people of the opposite sex
heterosexual
2 of 2 noun
: a heterosexual individual
Medical Definition
heterosexual
1 of 2 adjective
het·ero·sex·u·al
ˌhet-ə-rō-ˈseksh-(ə-)wəl, -ˈsek-shəl
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to or between individuals of the opposite sex
b
: of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between individuals of the opposite sex
sexual relationships between individuals of opposite sexes are heterosexual—A. C. Kinsey
A. C. Kinsey2
: of or relating to different sexes
heterosexual
2 of 2 noun
: a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the opposite sex : a heterosexual individual
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share