# heterosexual

/ˌhɛtɝoʊˈsɛkʃəwəɫ/ (US) · /hˌɛtɹəʊsˈɛkʃuːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heterosexual
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. attraction to the opposite sex

adjective · CEFR B2

attracted to people of the opposite sex.

For teachers: sexually or romantically attracted to individuals of the opposite sex or gender.

- He identified as heterosexual and had only ever dated women.
- The study examined the social experiences of heterosexual men in predominantly female-dominated professional environments.

### 2. relating to different sexes

adjective · CEFR B2

involving a man and a woman.

For teachers: pertaining to or involving individuals of different sexes.

- They were a heterosexual couple who had been married for ten years.
- The legislation was originally designed to provide benefits exclusively to heterosexual married couples before the law was amended.

### 3. a person

noun · CEFR B2

a person who is attracted to the opposite sex.

For teachers: a person who is sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex.

- The survey asked if the participant was a heterosexual, a homosexual, or bisexual.
- Sociologists often compare the domestic habits of heterosexuals with those of same-sex couples to identify broader cultural trends.

## Examples

- Most people in the survey identified as heterosexual.
- The study examined the social dynamics of both heterosexual and same-sex couples in urban environments.

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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.