Dominant (Dom / Domme): The person who takes charge, leads the dynamic, or directs the activities. They are given authority by the submissive to set rules, administer discipline, or guide a scene.
Submissive (Sub): The person who consensually relinquishes control or power to the Dominant. They follow instructions, adhere to established rules, and trust the Dominant to guide their experience.
Switch: A person who enjoys both dominant and submissive roles. They may take on different roles with different partners, or shift between roles with the same partner depending on the scene or mood.
Top: The person who administers the action in a scene (e.g., tying the ropes, swinging the impact toy, or giving the sensation).
Bottom: The person who receives the action in a scene (e.g., being tied, receiving the impact, or experiencing the sensation).
Sadist: A person who derives pleasure (often, but not necessarily, sexual) from inflicting pain, intense physical sensation, or psychological humiliation on a consenting partner.
Masochist: A person who derives pleasure from experiencing pain, intense sensation, or humiliation.
Sadomasochist: Someone who enjoys both giving and receiving pain or intense sensation.
Brat: A specific type of submissive who playfully misbehaves, talks back, or disobeys intentionally to provoke a reaction, attention, or discipline from their Dominant.
Service Submissive: A submissive whose primary joy comes from performing tasks, chores, or acts of service to please their Dominant or make their life easier.
Rigger and Rope Bottom (or Bunny): Roles specific to bondage (like shibari). The rigger is the one who ties the ropes, and the rope bottom is the one being suspended or bound.
Primal: A play style that taps into raw, instinctual, and animalistic behaviors. Roles are often defined as "Hunter" and "Prey," involving wrestling, biting, and highly physical, non-verbal play.
Caregiver and Little (CGL / Ageplay): A dynamic focused on nurturing and regression. The Caregiver takes on a protective, parental, or guiding role, while the Little regresses to a younger headspace to experience innocence, playfulness, or care.
Slave: In BDSM, a slave is usually person who gives up total control to someone who they are in an agreed-upon dynamic and/or relationship with. The term slave is not gender specific. You can use “female slave” or “male slave” to make a distinction between genders. While all slaves are submissive, the term often implies a deeper level of authority granted to the dominant partner, sometimes called a Master.
Master: A Master accepts (or has accepted) absolute total authority and assumes ownership of a slave or slaves.