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Submissive (sub)

In dominance and submission (D/s), the people who take the subordinate position are called submissive, or subs[1].

Sources: grade A×1, grade B×3, grade C×4, grade D×1. Last checked 8 October 2026. What the grades mean

In D/s, both parties take pleasure or erotic enjoyment from either dominating or being dominated[1]. Those in the superior position are called dominants, while a switch is an individual who can play either role[1]. Physical contact is not necessary, and D/s can be conducted by telephone, email or other messaging systems[1].

The term power exchange refers to the empowerment of the dominant by the submissive's surrender to their control[2]. This exchange is consensual, and one source describes the submissive as holding the underlying control[2]. The dominant is described as attempting to satisfy the submissive's kinks and desires[2].

Rules are usually set and agreed upon by a dominant and a submissive before any scene or situation begins[3]. Community guidance describes negotiated rules, protocols, safewords and regular check-ins as parts of a structured dominant/submissive dynamic[4]. Many submissives wear a collar to indicate their status and commitment, and some choose a more subdued symbolic collar such as a bracelet or ankle chain[5].

The terms top and bottom can be used as synonyms for dominant and submissive, though they focus on the physical play[6]. In a 2026 UK survey, men were more likely to take dominant roles, women submissive roles, and nonbinary people to switch roles[7].

Roles as a spectrum Dominant at one end, submissive at the other, switch in between. Many people move along the line. Dominant Switch Submissive takes control moves between gives control
Roles are agreed for a scene, not fixed identities. Top and bottom describe who is active, which is a separate question.

Sources

  1. Source grade BFedoroff, Paul J. (2008). "Sadism, Sadomasochism, Sex, and Violence" . Canadian Journal of Psychiatry . 53 (10): 637– 646. doi : 10.1177/070674370805301003 . PMID 18940032 . :"Sexual arousal from consensual interactions that include domination should be distinguished from non consensual sex acts." doi.org (via Wikipedia: Dominance and submission)
  2. Source grade DBauer, Robin (2014). Queer BDSM intimacies: Critical consent and pushing boundaries . Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire; New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. {{ cite book }} : CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link ) (via Wikipedia: Dominance and submission)
  3. Source grade ABrown, Ashley; Barker, Edward D.; Rahman, Qazi (2020). "A Systematic Scoping Review of the Prevalence, Etiological, Psychological, and Interpersonal Factors Associated with BDSM". The Journal of Sex Research . 57 (6): 781– 811. doi : 10.1080/00224499.2019.1665619 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Discipline (BDSM))
  4. Source grade CBeMoreKinky (2025-01-24). "Submissive Training Guide: Creating BDSM Slave Rules" . BeMoreKinky . Retrieved 11 March 2026 . bemorekinky.com (via Wikipedia: Discipline (BDSM))
  5. Source grade CMakai, Michael (September 2013). "Chapter 6: The Collar". Domination & Submission: The BDSM Relationship Handbook . Createspace. pp. 152– 161. ISBN 978-1492775973 . (via Wikipedia: Dominance and submission)
  6. Source grade CNewmahr, Staci (2011). Playing on the Edge: Sadomasochism, Risk, and Intimacy . Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253355973 . OCLC 802887067 . search.worldcat.org (via Wikipedia: Dominance and submission)
  7. Source grade BBrown A, Barker ED, Friedrich S, Rahman Q. A Survey of the United Kink-dom: Investigating Five Paraphilic Interest Groups and Their Demographic and Psychological Correlates. J Sex Res. 2026;63(3):412-430. doi:10.1080/00224499.2025.2486472
  8. Source grade C"DSM, DSM-Iv, DSM-Ivr", Encyclopedia of Pain , Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, p. 1080, doi : 10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_100651 , ISBN 9783642287527 doi.org (via Wikipedia: Dominance and submission)
  9. Source grade BDunkley, Cara R.; Brotto, Lori A. (22 April 2019). "The Role of Consent in the Context of BDSM". Sexual Abuse . 32 (6). doi : 10.1177/1079063219842847 . ISSN 1079-0632 . PMID 31010393 . S2CID 128359900 . doi.org (via Wikipedia: Dominance and submission)

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.