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Safeword

In BDSM, a safeword is a code word, series of code words or other signal used by a person to communicate their physical or emotional state, typically when approaching, or crossing, a physical, emotional or moral boundary[1].

Sources: grade A×1, grade B×2, grade C×9. Last checked 8 October 2026. What the grades mean

Safewords are usually agreed upon before a scene by all participants, and many organised BDSM groups have standard safewords to avoid confusion at organised play events[2]. One study has shown that BDSM negotiations to establish consent consist of four parts covering style of play, body parts, limits and safewords[3].

Safewords are usually spoken, but they can also be physical or visual gestures[4]. The most common system is the traffic light system, in which "red" means "stop", "amber" or "yellow" means "proceed with caution", and "green" means "more, please!"[5].

Some people add other colours to the system, such as "blue" or "purple" for dissociation and other emotional triggers[6]. "Blue" may also be used to signify a medical emergency[7].

Where an act has been consented to beforehand, any participant can end that consent at any point by using a safeword[8]. Consensual non-consent is a mutual agreement to be able to act as if consent has been waived[9], and safewords are especially important there, as saying "stop" in that context is usually part of the scene[10].

The traffic-light system Green means all good, carry on. Amber means slow down or check in. Red means stop now. GreenAll good, carry on AmberSlow down or check in RedStop now, no questions asked
A common convention in kink communities (source grade D: practice, not research). Agree on it before you begin.

Sources

  1. Source grade C"Beyond Safe Words: When Saying 'No' in BDSM Isn't Enough" . Broadly . 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016 . Retrieved 22 April 2016 . vice.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)
  2. Source grade CClark, Tracy (29 January 2012). "When safe words are ignored" . Salon.com . Archived from the original on 27 April 2013 . Retrieved 29 April 2013 . salon.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)
  3. Source grade B“Conversational-Phases-in-BDSM-Pre-Scene-Negotiation” Journal of Positive Sexuality journalofpositivesexuality.org (via Wikipedia: Consent in BDSM)
  4. Source grade CWynne, Griffen (12 March 2019). "Here's How To Decide On A Safe Word, According To Sexperts" . Elite Daily . Retrieved 21 September 2026 . elitedaily.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)
  5. Source grade CGilmour, Paisley (17 September 2018). "Everything you need to know about using safewords" . Cosmopolitan . Retrieved 28 December 2020 . cosmopolitan.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)
  6. Source grade C"Safe Words" . FetLife . 26 February 2026 . Retrieved 21 September 2026 . fetlife.com; Keith (10 September 2024). "Safewords for Better Relationships" . Sitting Quietly, Doing Nothing . Retrieved 21 September 2026 . mcguinnes.wordpress.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)
  7. Source grade C"The KINKY SAFTEY COLOR CODE SYSTEM" . K-EDU CAMPUS: Your Free Kink Education Hub . SINSFULCOMICS. 16 August 2025 . Retrieved 21 September 2026 . keducampus.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)
  8. Source grade ABrown, Ashley (2019). "A Systematic Scoping Review of the Prevalence, Etiological, Psychological, and Interpersonal Factors Associated with BDSM" . Journal of Sex Research . 57 (6): 781– 811. doi : 10.1080/00224499.2019.1665619 . PMID 31617765 – via Taylor & Francis. tandfonline.com (via Wikipedia: Consent in BDSM)
  9. Source grade C"Consensual non-consent" Archived 2009-09-01 at the Wayback Machine , Informed Consent dictionary, Accessed 12 June 2012. informedconsent.co.uk; Dictionary of BDSM Terms , "Consensual Non-Consent", Accessed 12 June 2012. xeromag.com; Masterboundyou (2021-01-20). "5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONSENSUAL NON-CONSENT" . BoundYou . Retrieved 2025-07-17 . boundyou.wordpress.com; "What is Blanket Consent? (Free Use & CNC) - Dom sub Relationship" . 2023-10-30 . Retrieved 2025-07-17 . domsubrelationship.com; "CNC, Blanket Consent and everything in between" . Altlife.Community . Retrieved 2025-07-17 . altlife.community (via Wikipedia: Consent in BDSM)
  10. Source grade CBashan, Dr Frankie (22 August 2025). "Do You Need a Safeword? - Little Gay Book" . Retrieved 21 September 2026 . littlegaybook.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)
  11. Source grade B”collarncuffs.com on safewords” collarncuffs.com; Holt, Karen (2016). "Blacklisted: Boundaries, Violations, and Retaliatory Behavior in the BDSM Community" . Deviant Behavior . 37 (8): 917– 930. doi : 10.1080/01639625.2016.1156982 – via Taylor & Francis. tandfonline.com (via Wikipedia: Consent in BDSM)
  12. Source grade CBauer, R. (28 October 2014). Queer BDSM Intimacies: Critical Consent and Pushing Boundaries . Springer. ISBN 9781137435026 . Archived from the original on 23 November 2016 . Retrieved 22 November 2016 – via Google Books. books.google.com; David J. Ley (2 February 2021). "Consensual Non-Consent: Exploring Challenging Boundaries" . Psychology Today . Retrieved 3 January 2023 . psychologytoday.com (via Wikipedia: Safeword)

Grades: A systematic review or official classification, B peer-reviewed study, C expert or community organisation, D practice from the community without research. How we grade sources.

Every claim was checked against its source before publication. Last checked 8 October 2026.