What does sadomasochism mean?
Sadomasochism is the noun for practices in which people derive pleasure from inflicting and/or receiving pain, humiliation, domination, or other forms of suffering. It most commonly refers to consensual sexual activity, though it may also describe fictional, theatrical, or psychological themes. The term combines sadism, in which a person takes pleasure in causing suffering, with masochism, in which a person takes pleasure in suffering or humiliation. It should not be treated as a synonym for abuse: informed consent, negotiated limits, and the voluntary nature of the activity are central to how the word is ordinarily understood. Nevertheless, the legal status and social acceptability of particular activities can vary according to their nature and jurisdiction. Outside sexual contexts, the word can more broadly criticize or analyse a preoccupation with cruelty, coercion, or suffering. The expression is relatively specialized and is normally used with an explicit emphasis on consent when describing actual practices.
nounPractices in which people derive pleasure from inflicting and/or receiving pain, humiliation, or domination, often within a consensual sexual or theatrical context.
- Practices in which people derive pleasure from inflicting and/or receiving pain, humiliation, or domination.
- A broader tendency or pattern in which cruelty and the endurance or elicitation of suffering are treated as sources of pleasure.
"The couple negotiated their boundaries carefully before engaging in consensual sadomasochism."
"Their staged sadomasochism was based on careful discussion and mutual consent."
"Critics argued that the novel's treatment of sadomasochism romanticized coercion and cruelty."
Usually used as an uncountable noun; the plural is uncommon and refers to distinct practices or instances.
"The documentary examined several forms of sadomasochisms within consensual adult relationships."
The word joins two figures whose names became inseparable from pleasure through pain: the Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sadomasochism come from?
The word was formed in the 19th century by combining sadism and masochism. Sadism was named after the French writer and moralist Marquis de Sade, while masochism was named after the Austrian writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose works explored themes of cruelty and suffering. In the resulting compound, sadomasochism denotes a combination of the sadistic and masochistic elements.
Related word forms
How sadomasochism is actually used
The term most often describes consensual sexual practices, but it can also be used more broadly for cruelty and the deliberate infliction of suffering. Consensual participation, clear boundaries, and legal or ethical constraints distinguish it from abuse or non-consensual violence.
Easily confused with sadomasochism
Masochism specifically denotes receiving pleasure from one's own pain, humiliation, or suffering, whereas sadomasochism can also include the sadistic element of inflicting suffering on another person.