Standard Lemma guide

safeword

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A word used in sexual practices (especially sadomasochistic ones) to unambiguously indicate that a participant actually desires the activity to cease and is not merely feigning a lack of consent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: BDSM, lifestyle, sexuality

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A word used to confirm one's identity; a password.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To stop a sex act by using a safeword.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: BDSM, lifestyle, sexuality

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From safe + word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: paraula de seguretat — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Chinese Mandarin: 安全詞 /安全词 (ānquáncí) — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Dutch: stopwoord — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Finnish: turvasana — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • French: mot de sécurité — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • German: Safeword — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Italian: parola di sicurezza — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Japanese: セーフワード (sēfuwādo) — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Polish: hasło bezpieczeństwa — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Portuguese: palavra de segurança — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Russian: стоп-сло́во (stop-slóvo) — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Spanish: palabra segura f palabra de seguridad — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop
  • Swedish: stoppord — a word used to indicate that a participant wants to stop