what does heterosexual mean

Heterosexual means being sexually or romantically attracted to people of the opposite sex or gender. It refers to a sexual orientation where an individual has emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction toward someone of a different sex. People who identify as heterosexual are often called "straight." This term contrasts with homosexual, which means being attracted to people of the same sex. The prefix "hetero-" comes from the Greek word meaning "different" or "other," highlighting the attraction to the opposite sex. Heterosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, alongside homosexuality and bisexuality. It is the most common sexual orientation across cultures and has traditionally been seen as the normative or socially dominant form. In summary, heterosexuality is the orientation characterized by attraction to the opposite sex or gender.