BDSM Glossary

Published: February 2, 2024 (Updated: February 1, 2024)

Tags: BDSM

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Welcome to our glossary of BDSM terms, a comprehensive lexicon designed to demystify the fascinating world of BDSM. From role-playing terminologies to jargon depicting unique BDSM practices - we’ve covered it all.

Our intent is to provide a respectful, non-judgmental, and safe space where you can increase your understanding of the comprehensive descriptions, meanings, and applications of terms commonly used in the BDSM community. This glossary serves as a vital navigational tool for anyone starting their journey into BDSM or for the seasoned participant looking to polish their knowledge.

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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A

ABDL - Adult Baby/Diaper Lover

Adult babies enjoy role-playing as an infant, a form of ageplay. Diaper lovers enjoy wearing and often using diapers.

Aftercare

The time after a scene where the participants calm down together, often involving discussing the scene and their emotions.

B

BDSM

Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sadism/Masochism

Bondage

Acts involving the physical restraint of a partner.

Bottom

The receiving partner in a scene, not always the submissive.

C

CBT - Cock and Ball Torture

Torture of the penis and testicles for sexual gratification.

CNC - Consensual Non-Consent

An agreement where parties act as if consent has been waived.

Collared

A submissive who is owned, usually involving a formal collar. Differentiated from a “stray”.

Consent

Mutual agreement to the current situation.

D

D/s - Dominance/Submission

Play or relationships involving power exchange.

DDLG - Daddy Dom/Little Girl

A D/s lifestyle where the Dom takes on the role of a caregiving parent and the sub of a dependent child.

Dom/Dominant

The partner that has control or power over the submissive.

Domme

A female Dom.

Domspace

A euphoric state of mind a Dom may enter during a scene.

Dungeon

A room or area outfitted with BDSM equipment.

E

Edgeplay

S/M play that involves a chance of physical or emotional harm.

Edging

Repeatedly reaching the edge of orgasm without going over.

F

Figging

Intentionally inserting a peeled ginger root into the body to cause intense sensations.

Findom - Financial Domination

D/s play involving money. Submissive partner is often called a money slave, finsub, paypig, human ATM, etc.

Fisting

Inserting the entire hand into the body.

G

Golden Shower

Urinating on someone.

Gor/Gorean

A subgenre relating to the world of Gor, erotic novels by John Norman.

H

Hard limits

What someone absolutely will not do; non-negotiable.

Hogtie

A form of bondage where the wrist and ankles are tied together behind the back.

I

Impact Play

A form of sensation play where the sub derives pleasure from impacts from whips, crops, floggers, etc.

J

K

Kajjira

A slave girl, from Gorean mythology.

Kinbaku

A Japanese style of rope bondage

L

Limits

What someone wil not participate in (hard limits) or is hesitant to do (soft limits).

M

Masochist

A person who enjoys pain.

M/s - Master/slave

A consensual relationship where the Dominant partner receives control over the submissive.

Munch

A meeting of BDSM practitioners, usually in a vanilla setting.

MDLB - Mommy Domme/Little Boy

The female lead version of DDLG.

N

O

P

Pegging

A sexual practice where a woman performs anal sex on a man.

Play Party

An event involving many people engaging in scenes.

Q

R

RACK - Risk Aware Consensual Kink

A framework for understanding the risks involved in a scene before consenting.

S

Sadist

A person who enjoys inflicting pain.

Safeword

A codeword a bottom can use to force the top to stop or reduce the intensity of the activity.

Slave

A submissive who gives up total control of the situation.

SSC - Safe, Sane, and Consensual

A framework that ensure a scene is safe before consenting.

Soft Limits

What someone is reluctant to do.

Stray

A submissive who is not currently owned. Differentiated from “collared”.

Sub/Submissive

The person giving up power in a D/s relationship.

Subdrop

A physical/emotional condition experienced by a submissive after an intense experience.

Subspace

A euphoric state sometimes entered by submissives during a scene.

Switch

Someone who likes being both Dominant and submissive.

T

Top

The person doing the action in a scene, not necessarily the Dominant partner.

TPE - Total Power Exchange

A relationship where the Dominant has complete control over the submissive’s life.

U

V

Vanilla

Non-BDSM related things or people.

W

Watersports

Slang for play involving urination.

WIITWD - What It Is That We Do

A broad term encompassing all forms of alternative sexuality.

X

Y

Z