What does heterosexual mean?
Heterosexual is an English word that describes sexual attraction or relationships involving the opposite sex. Used as an adjective, it can modify nouns such as couple, relationship, or orientation; used as a noun, it refers to a person with that pattern of attraction. In everyday English, straight is a common informal alternative, while heterosexual is often the more formal or explicitly descriptive term. The word belongs to the vocabulary of sexual orientation and is distinct from gender identity: a heterosexual person may be transgender, and a transgender person may be heterosexual. It can also be used in medical, educational, legal, and historical contexts, where precision and neutrality matter. The term is related etymologically to heterogeneous, although the words have different meanings: one concerns sexual attraction, and the other means composed of different elements. Recognising the distinction helps prevent confusion and supports clear, respectful discussion of relationships, identity, and orientation.
Relating to or denoting sexual attraction, orientation, or relationships involving people of the opposite sex.
"The study examined heterosexual couples and how they shared responsibilities at home."
The adjective is neutral in tone and can be used in both personal and institutional contexts. It describes sexual orientation rather than gender identity.
A person who is sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.
"She said she was a heterosexual and had never experienced same-sex attraction."
As a noun, heterosexual is less common in everyday conversation than the adjective, although it remains standard and understandable.
The regular plural refers to people who are heterosexual.
"The interview included heterosexuals from several different countries."
The word heterosexual emerged in the 1890s, when English was rapidly developing more precise vocabulary for describing sexual orientation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does heterosexual come from?
Heterosexual combines the combining form hetero-, from Greek heteros, meaning other or different, with sexual, from Latin sexualis, which is related to sexus, meaning sex. The word appeared in English in the 1890s as part of the period's expanding scientific and medical vocabulary for describing human sexuality. Its relatives include heterogeneous and heterogeneity, from the same Greek prefix, as well as sexual and sexuality, which share its Latin root.
Related word forms
How heterosexual is actually used
The term is generally neutral and common in formal, educational, medical, and personal contexts. In casual speech, straight is more usual; hetero is also informal and can sound dismissive in some contexts. Heterosexual describes sexual attraction, not gender identity, and is not a synonym for cisgender.
Easily confused with heterosexual
Heterogeneous means composed of different or unlike elements, whereas heterosexual concerns sexual attraction to the opposite sex.