Cishet - meaning and definition
Alsocis hetcis-hetcisgender heterosexual
Definition
Short for "cisgender and heterosexual": someone whose gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth and who is attracted to the opposite gender.
At a glance
- Short for 'cisgender and heterosexual'.
- Used mainly in LGBTQ+ spaces as descriptive shorthand.
- Usually neutral, though sometimes said with an eye-roll.
- On a profile it may describe the writer or welcome cishet allies.
In detail
Cishet is a descriptive shorthand used mainly in LGBTQ+ spaces. On a profile it might mean "I am cishet" or "cishet people welcome as allies".
It is usually neutral, though it can be said with an eye-roll when describing people who do not consider experiences outside their own.
In a sentence
- Cishet guy here, but I've been to every Pride with my sister.
- Queer-friendly space, cishet allies welcome.
Where the word comes from
Cishet is a blend of 'cis', short for cisgender, and 'het', short for heterosexual. It spread in online LGBTQ+ communities in the 2010s.
Common questions
Is cishet an insult?
Not in itself. It is a descriptive word, like straight. Tone and context can make it sound critical, usually when describing people who do not consider experiences beyond their own.