# hetero

/hˈɛtɹəʊ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hetero
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

a person who is attracted to people of the opposite sex. It is a short, casual way to say 'heterosexual'.

For teachers: a person whose primary sexual orientation is toward the opposite sex.

## Examples

- He is a hetero who only dates women.
- In the survey, participants were asked to identify as hetero, homo, or bi to better understand the local demographics.
- While the term hetero is common in casual conversation, academic studies often prefer the full 'heterosexual' to maintain a more neutral and precise tone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.