heterosexual
noun
- loving someone of the opposite gendersex
adjective
- (of a man or woman) attracted to the opposite gender
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˌhɛtəɹəˈsɛkʃuəl/ / /ˌhɛtəɹoʊˈsɛkʃuəl/ / /ˌhɛtɹəˈsɛkʃuəl/
adj
Etymology: From hetero- + -sexual. Earliest citation from 1892, in C.G. Craddock's translation of Krafft-Ebbing's Psychopathia Sexualis.
- 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.”
- 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.”
“On the average, the [bisexual] women’s first heterosexual attraction and experience (at 11.6 and 14.7 years) occurred before their first homosexual attraction and experience (at 16.9 and 21.4 years).”
- Having a sexual desire for the opposite sex seen as unhealthy, including a proclivity for nonreproductive sex.
noun
Etymology: From hetero- + -sexual. Earliest citation from 1892, in C.G. Craddock's translation of Krafft-Ebbing's Psychopathia Sexualis.
- 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.”