Boundaries in relationships — personal limits of comfort and agreements that define what is acceptable to a person and what is not in interactions with a partner.
What it means
Boundaries can be physical, emotional, time-related, digital and more. They do not divide people; on the contrary, they help build trust: when each person understands the other’s limits, the risk of misunderstandings and hurt goes down. Boundaries naturally change over time, so it is useful to voice and revisit them. A healthy relationship assumes that one partner’s “no” is received calmly and with respect.
Example
One partner says they need personal time in the evenings, and the other takes it with understanding, not reading it as distancing. That is how boundaries are respected.
Related terms
Consent, safeword, emotional intimacy.
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