BDSM is a variety of frequently erotic procedures or roleplaying involving bondage, self-control, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other associated interpersonal dynamics. Offered the wide range of practices, some of which can be engaged in by individuals that do not consider them selves to generally be practising BDSM, inclusion during the BDSM Local community or subculture typically is claimed to depend on self-identification and shared encounter.

The initialism BDSM is first recorded in a Usenet write-up from 1991, which is interpreted as a combination of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM has become applied being a catch-all phrase masking a wide array of routines, forms of interpersonal interactions, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities generally welcome any one that has a non-normative streak who identifies With all the community; this will likely incorporate cross-dressers, physique modification fans, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Other folks.

Actions and interactions in BDSM are frequently characterised with the participants' taking up roles which are complementary and contain inequality of electrical power; thus, the concept of educated consent of the two the associates is important. The conditions submissive and dominant are frequently made use of to distinguish these roles: the dominant lover ("dom") will take psychological Command above the submissive ("sub"). The phrases best and base can also be utilised; the best may be the instigator of the action although The underside is the receiver in the motion. The 2 sets of terms are subtly distinct: one example is, somebody may possibly prefer to act as bottom to another man or woman, such as, by becoming whipped, purely recreationally, with no implication of staying psychologically dominated, and submissives may be ordered to massage their dominant companions. Even though the base carries out the motion and the best gets it, they have not always switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are usually applied in lieu of submissive and dominant. Sometimes the female-particular phrases mistress, domme, and dominatrix are utilised to explain a dominant girl, in place of the in some cases gender-neutral time period dom. People who change between leading/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—regardless of whether from romantic relationship to romance or in just a supplied marriage—are termed switches. The specific definition of roles and self-identification is a standard subject matter of discussion amid BDSM individuals.