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Glite Dictionary
❤️ Opposite-sex attraction 🏛️ Favoring straight relationships
heterosexualism

heterosexualism

7.6
A sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex
  • noun
  • /ˌhɛtərəˈsɛkʃuəlɪzəm/
translation icon : heterosexualidad
  • Many people believe that heterosexualism should be viewed as just one of many valid sexual orientations.

Examples

  • Some researchers study the origins of both heterosexualism and homosexuality.

  • The documentary explores different perspectives on heterosexualism in modern society.

  • His views on heterosexualism sparked controversy among activists.

  • Many cultures promote heterosexualism as the norm.

  • The concept of heterosexualism can be controversial.

  • In discussions about society, heterosexualism is often mentioned when addressing issues of sexual equality.

  • The documentary illustrates how heterosexualism influences relationship expectations in various cultures.

Synonyms

heterosexuality
vsheterosexualism
9 4.9

Attraction to people of the opposite sex

also includes sexual relations and orientation beyond that state
straightness
vsheterosexualism
1 5.6

Being attracted to people of the opposite sex

places more emphasis on relations and orientation rather than only the condition
heterosex
vsheterosexualism
8.0

Attraction to people of the opposite sex

covers both attraction and sexual relations as a wider orientation

Antonyms

nonheterosexual
7.0

Describing people not only attracted to the opposite sex

How Heterosexual

heterosexualism
7.6
bisexuality
7 5.3
homosexuality
188 4.3

Surface Forms

heterosexualism singular
heterosexualisms plural

Morphology

heterosexualism = heterosexual (transparent) = heterosexual + ism

Formed from the adjective 'heterosexual' plus the productive suffix '-ism' meaning a state or ideology, so the sense is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Heterosexualism has the parts hetero- meaning 'other' and sex meaning 'male or female'. So it literally speaks of sexual attraction to the 'other' sex, which is why it refers to being attracted to people of the opposite sex.