safeword

See also: safe word

English

Etymology

From safe +‎ word.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

safeword (plural safewords)

1. (chiefly BDSM) A word used in (especially sadomasochistic) sexual practices to unambiguously indicate that a participant actually desires the activity to cease and is not merely feigning a lack of consent.
   • 2004, Felice Newman, The Whole Lesbian Sex Book, →ISBN, page 201:

     Likewise, a top's ability to respond to your safeword is what makes her a safe partner.

   • 2006, Tristan Taormino, The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women:

     If you don't like something that's happening or you want the scene to stop right away, simply say your safeword.

   • 2007, Sloan Christopher, Dangerous Obsession:

     My guess is our victims probably used their safewords or protested at some point, but our guy doesn't care about safewords or the BDSM creed...

Translations

a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 安全詞 / 安全词 (ānquáncí)

• Dutch: stopwoord (nl) n
• Finnish: turvasana
• French: mot de sécurité (fr) m
• German: Safeword n
• Polish: hasło bezpieczeństwa n
• Russian: стоп-сло́во (ru) n (stop-slóvo)
• Swedish: stoppord n

Verb

safeword (third-person singular simple present safewords, present participle safewording, simple past and past participle safeworded)

1. (chiefly BDSM) To stop a sex act by using a safeword.
   • 2015, Kris Ripper, Extremes‎^[1], page 33:

     Like it's kind of in my head that maybe I could surprise him, like Eddie said, you know, before I flip out and safeword.

   • 2015, Cari Silverwood, Take Me, Break Me‎^[2], page 177:

     I am going to trust you to safeword though. Say red if you need to. Okay?

   • 2011, Lee Harrington, Spirit of Desire‎^[3], page 199:

     This can be difficult if your partner is trying to safeword but all that is coming out is a mew or growl.