hetero

noun

het·​ero ˈhe-tə-ˌrō How to pronounce hetero (audio)
plural heteros
: heterosexual
hetero adjective

Examples of hetero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now that sexism is in again, its default to the hetero male gaze is unmistakable. — Judy Berman, Time, 10 Apr. 2026 Curtis plays up his hetero masculinity in the office, but at home is a devoted, loving partner to his boyfriend. — Kerensa Cadenas, IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2024 Both are devoted to the same hetero fairy tale; whether the wedding is happening in the temple or on national television is irrelevant. — Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025 Conservative ideologues bemoaned the inclusion of characters who did not fit the cookie-cutter image of a white, cis, hetero man. — Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for hetero

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hetero was in 1940

Browse Nearby Words

heterization
hetero
heteroatom
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hetero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hetero. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

hetero

noun
het·​ero ˈhet-ə-ˌrō How to pronounce hetero (audio)
plural heteros
: heterosexual
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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