BDSM — an umbrella term for a set of practices built around the distribution of power, roles and physical sensation with the informed consent of everyone involved.
What it means
The acronym brings together several strands: bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism. What they share is that they are voluntary, based on trust and agreements. The community widely follows the principles “safe, sane and consensual” and “risk-aware consensual kink.” BDSM is not about abuse but about a pre-negotiated exchange of roles, where every participant has the right to stop at any moment using a safeword.
Example
Before starting, partners discuss what interests them and what is off-limits, and agree on a signal to pause. Such preparation is a basic part of BDSM culture.
Related terms
Dominance and submission, safeword, aftercare.
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