Glossary of Terms used
to describe BDSM
BDSM : An umbrella term used to describe a sexual practice
that involves the use of physical control, psychological
power, or pain. It typically includes the components of
bondage and discipline, domination and submission, or sadism
or masochism
BOTTOM : The person in a scene who follows the orders and
receives the sensations
CONSENT : Agreeing to certain acts in a BDSM scene or
relationship. Practitioners believe that consent is what
separates BDSM from assault
DOMINA : A dominant who is female and embraces a
feminine gender role
DOMINANCE & SUBMISSION (D/S) : A term for the behaviour
or rituals that a submissive person follows in a BDSM
relationship. In D/S one person usually has power over another
DOMINANT : A person who has the authority in a BDSM
relationship or scene
DROP : The physical or emotional exhaustion that takes place
after a scene. Both tops and bottoms may experience a drop. Crying,
feeling sad, and physical shaking are all signs of a drop
DUNGEON : A location where BDSM play takes place (usually
in a person's home, but frequently in abandonded factories,
churches, or nuclear reactors)
EDGE PLAY : BDSM acts that are considered more intense
or dangerous, such as breath play
FEMALE DOMINANCE : When a woman takes the dominant role
in a BDSM relationship or scene
FEMALE SUBMISSION : BDSM activity in which a woman
submits to a sexual partner
FETISH : An obsession with a specific experience, body
part, or object
FETISH WEAR : The clothing worn by those who practice
BDSM (usually leather attire or other role-playing costumes)
IMPACT PLAY : A type of BDSM that involves striking the
body. This can be done with a hand, paddle, cane, whip,
flogger, or other instrument
KINK : Nonconventional sexual practices. BDSM is often
referred to as kink
MASTER : The person who has control over a slave in a
consensual master-slave relationship
PLAY : A term used to describe the BDSM acts themselves
PLAY PARTY : A social gathering where guests can engage
in BDSM activity
PRO DOMME : A woman who is a professional top and
dominant
ROLE PLAY : When one or more people take on a different
identity during a scene. Examples may include teacher-
student, doctor-patient, or boss-employee role plays
SADISM & MASOCHISM : This subset of BDSM involves
inflicting pain or humiliation for the purpose of pleasure
or sexual gratification
SAFE, SANE, and CONSENSUAL (SSC) : This phrase
describes what the BDSM community considers ethical behaviour,
Kink enthusiasts stress that activities must always be safe,
sane, and consensual
SOFT LIMITS : A limit that's more flexible than a hard
limit, it might be an act that a person is hesitant to perform
but may be willing to try
SCENE : The actual BDSM activities or encounters that take
place are known as a scene
SLAVE : A person who gives up total control of one or more
parts of their life to a master
SUBMISSIVE : Someone who submits to a dominant person in
a BDSM relationship or scene. Submissive can be shortened to
sub
SWITCH : A person who sometimes plays a top and sometimes
plays a bottom in a BDSM scene
TOP : The person who performs the BDSM acts in a scene
VANILLA SEX : Used by people in the BDSM community to label
sexual behaviour that doesn't involve kink
GALLERY501