D/S (Dating Term)

What Does D/S Mean?

D/S or D/s means "Dominance and Submission." It is commonly written with an uppercase 'D' and a lowercase 's' to signify Dominant and submissive.

D/s is one element of BDSM (Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, and Sadomasochism). D/s contrasts with sadomasochism, as D/s partners tend to enjoy the power aspect rather than the physical sensations (i.e., the 'pains') associated with sadomasochism.

In D/s relationships, one partner usually dominates the other, but the power is sometimes 'switched' too. In other words, a person can identify as dominant, submissive (sub), or switch.

It is common for couples not be D/s all the time. Such occasions often involve role playing power-based games, such as 'Doctors and Nurses,' 'Teacher and Student,' or 'Guard and Prisoner.'

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Image for D/S

When I write D/S, I mean this:

Dominance and Submission

Summary of Key Points

"Dominance and Submission" is the most common meaning for D/S on online dating sites, such as Craigslist, Tinder, Zoosk and Match.com, as well as in texts and on chat forums.

D/S
Definition:	Dominance and Submission
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults

Examples of D/S in Sentences

Here is an example of D/s used online:

• Male, 29, D/s, Employed, Clean.

Example of D/S Used in a Text

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