Safe word

A Safe Word is a word that is known to participants primarily in BDSM circles that indicates that the person saying the word would like the current activity to cease.

Often, during BDSM types of sexual activities, especially bondage, part of the sexual arousal is derived from a participant showing resistance or voicing displeasure as to what is being done to them. A creative way that the parties involved may know that someone has gone beyond their threshold and would like the activity to actually stop, is to agree to a safe word prior to beginning. Use of the safe word during the sexual activity should then immediately alert participants to stop.

Safe words can be any word that participants agree upon.