heterosexual
heterosexual
Pronunciation
IPA: /ˌhɛt.ə.ɹoʊˈsɛk.ʃu.əl/
Syllable Breakdown:
het- /ˌhɛt/: The first syllable, "het," is pronounced with a secondary stress. The "e" is a short vowel sound, similar to the "e" in "bet." The "t" is a voiceless alveolar plosive.
-er- /ə/: The second syllable is a reduced vowel sound, the schwa, which is an unstressed vowel sound similar to the "a" in "sofa." The "r" is an alveolar approximant.
-o- /roʊ/: The third syllable, "o," is part of the "-ero-" segment and is pronounced as a diphthong, a glide from one vowel sound to another. The "r" is an alveolar approximant, and the vowel sound is a long "o," as in "go."
-sex- /ˈsɛk/: The fourth syllable, "sex," receives the primary stress. The "s" is a voiceless alveolar fricative. The "e" is a short vowel sound, as in "bet." The "k" is a voiceless velar plosive.
-u- /ʃu/: The fifth syllable is a glide sound, which is a combination of two sounds. The "sh" is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, and the "u" is a vowel sound similar to the "oo" in "too."
-al /əl/: The final syllable is an unstressed schwa sound followed by a syllabic "l," which acts as a vowel. The "l" is a lateral approximant.
Word Form Variations
Noun: heterosexual (singular), heterosexuals (plural)
Adjective: heterosexual (uncountable)
Adverb: heterosexually
Related Noun: heterosexuality
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Relating to, characterized by, or involving sexual attraction or behavior between individuals of the opposite sex.
Synonyms: straight, opposite-sex
Antonyms: homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, pansexual
Of or designating an individual who is sexually attracted to individuals of the opposite sex.
Synonyms: straight
Antonyms: homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual
Noun
A person who is sexually attracted to individuals of the opposite sex.
Synonyms: straight
Antonyms: homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, pansexual
Adverb
In a manner that is heterosexual.
Synonyms: straightly
Antonyms: homosexually
Examples of Use
Books: "The character's journey explores the complexities of identity, challenging traditional notions of what constitutes a 'normal' heterosexual relationship in society" (2018).
Newspapers: "A recent study published in the Journal of Sociology reveals shifting attitudes toward gender roles within heterosexual couples" (May 2023).
Online Publications: "In an op-ed for a popular online magazine, a writer reflects on her experiences navigating the dating world as a heterosexual woman" (July 2024).
Television: During a panel discussion on a news program, a commentator remarked, "The data indicates that a significant portion of the audience for this show is heterosexual, though its themes resonate with a much broader group" (2022).
Film: A line of dialogue in a romantic comedy film: "She told me she's only ever been attracted to men, so yeah, she's heterosexual" (2019).
Public Discourse: In a social media post, a user wrote, "As a heterosexual person, I still feel it's important to be an ally and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights."
Magazines: "This month's cover story examines the changing dynamics of heterosexual marriage in the 21st century" (Psychology Today, September 2020).
Academic Journals: "The research examines the impact of societal expectations on the mental health of heterosexual males" (Journal of Gender Studies, 2021).
Podcasts: A podcast host interviewing a guest on a relationship advice show: "So, what are some common issues you see in the heterosexual relationships you counsel?" (2023).
Radio: On a morning talk show, a host introduced a segment by saying, "We'll be talking about challenges facing heterosexual parents today, and we're taking your calls" (2022).
10 Famous Quotes Using Heterosexual
"In itself, homosexuality is as limiting as heterosexuality: the ideal should be to be capable of loving a woman or a man; either, a human being, without feeling fear, restraint, or obligation." - Simone de Beauvoir
"There is no such thing as a homosexual or a heterosexual person. There are only homo- or heterosexual acts." - Gore Vidal
"I identify as gender-normative, heterosexual, and white-trash American." - Frances McDormand
"My image had always been very heterosexual, very straight. So it was a nice experience for me, a chance to clarify my own feelings about gay and lesbian civil rights." - Bruce Springsteen
"I'm about as privileged as you can get: I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band." - Dan Reynolds
"Women don't go to war to kill other women. Wars and armies and nuclear weapons are essentially heterosexual hobbies." - Morrissey
"I'm a heterosexual, married woman with children. I'm a mother who's also a track mom, who cooks and cleans. And I just happen to be an ally for the gay community." - Michelle Visage
"Males do not represent two discrete populations, heterosexual and homosexual." - Alfred Kinsey
"The ability for employment benefits to be shared among spouses, the ability to move people who are dependent on visas for trailing spouses, all hinges on being able to deal with families of gay people in the same way that you deal with families of heterosexual people." - Lloyd Blankfein
"If more men were homosexual, there would be no wars, because homosexual men would never kill other men, whereas heterosexual men love killing other men." - Morrissey
Etymology
The word "heterosexual" is a great example of how language is built from older parts. It's a combination of a Greek prefix and a Latin root.
"Hetero-": This part comes from the ancient Greek word héteros, which means "other" or "different."
"-sexual": This part comes from the Latin word sexus, which refers to "sex" or "gender."
So, when you put them together, the word literally means "of the different sex."
The first known use of "heterosexual" as a term was in the late 19th century, around 1869. Interestingly, it was created by a man named Karl Maria Kertbeny, a journalist and human rights activist from Austria-Hungary. He was fighting against laws that made male-male sexual acts a crime. He coined "heterosexual" alongside "homosexual" to create a new way of thinking about sexual attraction, suggesting that it was a natural human trait directed either toward the "same" sex or the "different" sex.
When the word first started appearing in medical dictionaries and psychological texts, its meaning wasn't what we think of today. In fact, some early definitions, like in the 1923 Merriam-Webster dictionary, referred to it as a "morbid sexual passion for one of the opposite sex." This is because, at the time, any sexual behavior that wasn't strictly for procreation was sometimes considered abnormal or deviant. It wasn't until the 1930s that the word's meaning shifted to what we understand now: "a manifestation of sexual passion for one of the opposite sex; normal sexuality." This shows how the meaning of a word can evolve over time as social views and understanding change.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Heterosexual
Heterosexual couple: A very common phrase to describe a man and a woman in a romantic relationship.
Heterosexual romance: Used to describe a love story between a man and a woman, often in the context of fiction.
Heterosexual lifestyle: Refers to a way of life or set of norms associated with heterosexual individuals, often used in sociological or cultural discussions.
A heterosexual person's perspective: Used to frame a point of view from a person who is attracted to the opposite sex.
Here are some idiomatic phrases that use a common synonym for "heterosexual," which is "straight." These are much more common in everyday speech and culture.
"Playing it straight": Acting in an honest, direct, or conventional way.
"A straight shooter": A person who is honest and direct in their dealings with others.
"Get your facts straight": An instruction to ensure you have the correct information before speaking or acting.
"Straight as an arrow": Describes someone or something that is very direct, honest, or not crooked.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of heterosexual from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
