safe word
noun
plural safe words
1
: a prearranged word or phrase that someone participating in BDSM sexual activity uses to signal that the activity should stop immediately
A safe word allows the person to indicate to their partner that they do not feel safe or comfortable.—Sophie Foster
A safe word should not be 'no' because, frequently, shouting 'no' is part of the fantasy of resistance.—Ally Booker
… they frequently engaged in sadomasochistic role-playing that involved announcing a "safe word" if one or the other wanted to stop.—Matthew Barakat
(figurative) Consider the Snake Oil Noir [cocktail], a particular masterwork that … takes a lot of people to the brink of uttering their safe word. In part, that's because of the Ancho Reyes chile liqueur added for both heat and an earthy aspect.—Jon Bonné
2
: a prearranged word or phrase known only by a small group of people (such as an extended family) that is used especially to confirm identity or to convey that one feels unsafe
Suggest picking a simple code word that only close family knows. If someone calls claiming to be a grandchild in crisis, the grandparent can calmly ask for the safe word. If the caller cannot answer, hang up.—Hannah Dreyfus
If a neighbor or family friend is picking the child up and he says the safe word to the kid, then the child would know it's OK to go with them.—Mike Koury
… while students are on those phone calls [with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa], they can use a safe word to indicate if something is wrong at home.—Christina Salonikas
Cite this Entry
“Safe word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safe%20word. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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