safeword

plural safewords · alternative safe word

1. BDSMA word used in sexual practices (especially sadomasochistic ones) to unambiguously indicate that a participant actually desires the activity to cease and is not merely feigning a lack of consent.

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

   2004, Felice Newman, The Whole Lesbian Sex Book, →ISBN, page 201

   2 more examples

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

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

   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...

   2007, Sloan Christopher, Dangerous Obsession

2. A word used to confirm one's identity; a password.

   They invented a safe word to confirm they were real at the start of any sensitive phone call.

   2026 June 14, Eli Saslow, Erin Schaff, “The World’s Leading Deepfake Expert No Longer Trusts His Own Eyes”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

present singular third person safewords · participle present safewording · participle past safeworded · past safeworded · alternative safe word

1. intransitiveBDSMTo stop a sex act by using a safeword.

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

   2015, Cari Silverwood, Take Me, Break Me, page 177

   2 more examples

   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, Kris Ripper, Extremes, page 33

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

   2011, Lee Harrington, Spirit of Desire, page 199