Contract (BDSM)

This glossary of BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism) terms defines terms commonly used in the BDSM community.

BDSM activities are described as play in BDSM terminology.

The BDSM term is a portmanteau initialism intended to take in all of the following activities:

Some people in the BDSM community begin dominant terms with an upper case, for example: Top, Master, Dom, Domme, etc., as well as to begin submissive terms with a lower case, even where normally incorrect, chiefly in acronyms and abbreviations, such as D/s for Dom/sub. Some extend this to personal pronouns and names: for example Master Rob's slave linda may refer to him as Sir and herself as i (or as "this slave", restricted from using personal pronouns for herself). Others are highly dismissive of this "slashy speak."

In addition, high protocol refers to groups or individuals that adhere to strict roles and role-based rules of conduct, whereas low protocol refers to groups or individuals that are more relaxed. Old Guard now usually refers to high protocol groups, particularly gay leather BDSM groups; people who use this phrase may be romanticizing a perception of leather history: see Old Guard leather.

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