relationships3 min(s) read
'Heteroflexible' sexuality term explained - experts say it was the fastest-growing sexuality last year
Sexuality isn’t just about being gay, straight or bisexual anymore - and a new term is making waves as the fastest-growing identity of the year: heteroflexible.
In 2025, more people than ever are embracing sexual fluidity, and the latest data from dating app Feeld is putting one label firmly in the spotlight.
As the world becomes more open to exploring intimacy, identities like 'demisexual' and 'abrosexual' have gained traction - but 'heteroflexible' is the one seeing explosive growth.
Heteroflexible: What it really means
So what is heteroflexibility, and who does it apply to?
At its core, the term describes people who identify as straight but are open to same-sex experiences. That openness can range from a simple “never say never” attitude to something closer to bisexuality.
Think of someone who’s in a straight relationship but wouldn’t be against a threesome involving someone of the same gender.
Or a person who considers themselves straight but is theoretically open to same-sex encounters, even if they’re not actively looking for one.
Heteroflexible has become a way to describe people who are primarily straight, but not rigidly so - offering a middle ground for those who don’t fit neatly into traditional sexual categories.
The data behind the trend
According to Feeld’s Raw 2025 report - its yearly look into the desires and connections shaping modern intimacy - the number of users identifying as heteroflexible skyrocketed by 193 percent over the last year, making it the fastest-growing sexuality on the platform.
Dr. Luke Brunning, a Lecturer in Applied Ethics at the University of Leeds, UK, explained why this rise is happening: “If anything, it would be surprising if people were never sexually curious about people of their own sex or gender, or if attraction worked in neat and predictable ways,” he said in a Feeld press release.
The data also revealed some standout locations. Berlin, Germany topped the charts as the “most heteroflexible city,” and it also had the highest percentage of open relationships.
Meanwhile, New York City saw a 161 percent jump in its bisexual population.
Feeld’s VP of Data, Dina Mohammad-Laity, highlighted the shift in how people are redefining intimacy and identity: “Thanks to our incredible community, Feeld has a depth and diversity of data like no other. Feeld Raw offers a unique look at how intimacy and identity are evolving...
"We’re seeing a surge in people exploring connection and playfulness in authentic, fluid ways, redefining what it means to be seen and to connect in 2025.”
The rise of heteroflexibility underscores a growing cultural shift - one that embraces curiosity, questions rigid categories, and reflects how modern relationships are evolving.
Whether it’s casual experimentation or deeper identity exploration, it’s clear that more people are feeling free to define their own sexual boundaries.