Glossary
📖 The Kink & Fetish Glossary: 50+ Terms, Defined
From aftercare to shibari — a plain-English glossary of BDSM, kink and fetish terms so you can decode the scene and browse with confidence.
Updated July 5, 2026
New to the scene? Here’s a friendly glossary of the terms you’ll see most — including the tags you can browse on this site.
Roles & dynamics
- Dom/Domme — the one in control. See #dominant.
- Sub — the one who yields. See #submissive.
- Switch — enjoys both roles.
- Brat — a playful sub who resists on purpose (to be “tamed”).
- DDLG — Daddy Dom / little girl; a caregiver dynamic.
- Pet play — roleplaying as a pet (pup, kitten).
- Femdom — female-led dominance.
Play & techniques
- Impact play — spanking, flogging, paddling.
- Shibari — Japanese rope bondage.
- Edging — approaching orgasm, then stopping.
- Sensation play — wax, ice, feathers, texture.
Safety & care
- Safeword — instantly stops the scene. See our consent guide.
- SSC / RACK — the two big consent frameworks.
- Hard / soft limits — absolute no / maybe-with-care.
- Aftercare — the wind-down after a scene.
- Sub drop / Dom drop — the emotional dip after intense play.
Ready to see it all in action? Browse every tag or stumble the gallery.
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Enough reading — see how kinky the crowd really is.