heterosexual (noun, heterosexuality): characterized by other-sex contact, either as a genital act or as a long-term sexuoerotic status [from Greek,
heteros, other + sex]. It is analogous to right-handedness in being in conformity with the norm and therefore is not pathological in itself, though subject to other pathology. A heterosexual person is able to fall in love with, and become the pairbonded sexuoerotic partner of only a person of the other morphologic sex. Paraphilias occur predominantly in association with heterosexual pairing. The ideation and affective state, exclusive of the behavioral component, is
heterophilia.
Dictionary of Sexology Project: Main Index