Sex Dictionary

Heard a sex term you didn’t recognize? Maybe a partner said it, a product description used it, or it came up in a video. This sex dictionary from Adam & Eve explains it in plain language, with no judgment. You’ll find body parts and arousal terms, toys and the materials they’re made from, and slang from adult films. Look up the word you need, then get back to the fun.

There are many times you might need to check the Sex Dictionary. Maybe you hit an unfamiliar spec while shopping for a toy. Maybe someone used a word you didn’t know, or something you watched left you puzzled. Everyone picks up sex terms a little at a time, the same way you learn any new word. Knowing what a word means makes it easier to ask a question or bring something up with a partner, in your own words.

Close to 200 terms show up across this dictionary, and they fall into a handful of recognizable groups:

• Anatomy and arousal. Terms that name body parts and how they respond, including the G-spot, clitoris, and prostate.
• Toys and materials. Vocabulary for sex toys and what they're made from, including dildo, vibrator, silicone, and glass.
• Roles and practices. Words for sexual acts, positions, and power dynamics, including pegging, bondage, and the different BDSM roles.
• Health, safety, and legal terms. Definitions tied to protection, consent, and regulation, including Kegel exercises, and erectile dysfunction.

The full alphabetical list is below. Scan for the letter you need, or use your browser's find function to jump straight to a specific word.

A

• A-spot. The erogenous zone near the prostate, sometimes called the male G-spot for the intense orgasms it can produce with the right stimulation.
• Airborne. A category of positions where one partner lifts and holds the other in the air during intercourse.
• Anal. Sexual penetration involving the anus, also called Greek.
• Anal Beads. A string of beads for anal insertion, usually sized smaller to larger along the string, with a pull ring or loop at the end for easy, safe removal.
• Anal Lube. Lube made for anal penetration. It tends to be thicker and longer-lasting than other lubes.
• Anal Vibrator. A vibrator sized for anal use, usually 3 to 5 inches long and no more than about 1 inch wide, shorter and thinner than most other vibrators.
• Analingus. The formal term for oral sex performed on a partner's anus, usually involving licking in and around the area and sometimes inserting the tongue.
• Aphrodisiac. Something believed to increase sexual desire and lower inhibition. Oysters and chocolate are two foods widely believed to work this way.
• Aromatherapy. Using scents like vanilla or cinnamon to increase arousal during a sexual experience.
• ASMR. Short for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, a tingling, relaxing feeling triggered by certain tactile, audio, or visual cues, such as whispering or soft tapping sounds. There's a sexualized subgenre of ASMR content, but it's a subset of a broader, mostly non-sexual phenomenon.

B

• Baby Doll. A short, often sheer nightgown, frequently trimmed with lace or ribbon, fitted at the chest and loose below it.
• Back Door. Slang for anal penetration, whether by a toy or during sex.
• Ball Gag. A ball attached to straps that buckle behind the head, holding it in the wearer's mouth. Usually soft plastic or rubber, used in BDSM scenes to keep a submissive partner quiet.
• Bareback. Vaginal or anal sex without a condom. Because protected sex meaningfully lowers the risk of STIs and HIV transmission, going bareback is a choice partners typically make together, after talking about testing and protection, rather than a default.
• BDSM. Short for Bondage, Discipline, and Sadomasochism, an umbrella term for consensual play built on agreed-upon control between partners. Partners typically set limits and a safe word before starting, and either partner can pause or stop at any point. Scenes often include restraints, roleplay, and props like leather or vinyl costumes.
• Beaver. Slang for the vagina. It's also a style of clitoral vibrator with one long, thick tip instead of the two ears found on rabbit vibrators.
• Benzocaine. A numbing ingredient sometimes used in adult products to dull nerve sensation, which can help delay orgasm during sex.
• Ben Wa Balls. A toy made of weighted balls linked on a cord. Each ball shifts with movement, similar to Chinese worry balls. People sometimes use Ben Wa balls alongside Kegel exercises to help build pelvic floor strength.
• Bisexual. Someone sexually attracted to more than one sex.
• Blowjob. Oral sex performed on a penis.
• Blow-up Dolls. A toy that simulates sex with a partner, originally inflatable and now used more broadly for love dolls in general. Features vary by design and price point.
• Breast Worship. Focused attention on the breasts and nipples, from fondling and kissing to breast banging.
• Body Stocking. A form-fitting, usually sheer piece of lingerie covering the body head to toe.
• Bondage. Consensually restraining or being restrained during sex, often with handcuffs or wrist and ankle restraints.
• Bottom. The partner on the receiving end during sex, a term mostly used to describe gay sex.
• Brazilian. A waxing style that removes all pubic hair.
• Bulbous. A rounded, bulb-like shape larger than the surrounding area, common on G-spot and prostate toys because it makes stimulation and removal easier.
• Bullet Proof. Slang for practicing safer sex by using a condom.
• Bump and Grind. A dance move that rotates the hips and thrusts the pelvis to simulate sex.
• Bustier. A piece of lingerie running from the breasts to the waist, often built with an underwire to shape cleavage.
• Bullets. A small vibrator, usually 2 to 4 inches long, used for clitoral stimulation or to add vibration to another toy.
• Butt Plugs. Toys made for anal stimulation, typically 3 to 5 inches long with a tapered shaft that widens to 1 to 2 inches near a flat base designed to stop it from slipping in too far.
• Butterfly Vibrator. A vibrator lined with ticklers and worn with straps over the clitoris, similar to underwear, for hands-free stimulation.

C

• Camel Toe. An outline of the vulva visible through fabric.
• Cami or Camisole. A sleeveless, fitted piece of lingerie covering the upper body, increasingly worn as outerwear too.
• Chemise. A loose garment from the neck to mid-thigh, longer and looser than a baby doll.
• Chubby. Describes a toy that's shorter and thicker than average. An average dildo runs 6 to 8 inches long and about 1.5 inches wide, while a chubby one runs closer to 4 to 6 inches long and 2 to 2.5 inches wide.
• Climax. Another word for orgasm.
• Clit. Short for clitoris, the small, sensitive organ near the front of the vulva with a dense concentration of nerve endings.
• Clitoral Vibrator. Any vibrator built for clitoral stimulation, including rabbit and butterfly styles.
• Clitoris. Located near the top of the vulva, the anatomical term for the only part of the female body that exists solely for pleasure.
• Commando. Not wearing underwear.
• Copulate. A formal term for having sexual intercourse.
• Corset. A fitted piece of lingerie running from under the breasts to the waist, often built with underwire to shape cleavage. They are now being commonly worn outside of the bedroom or over clothes.
• Couple-friendly. Toys made with couples in mind: designed for use during partnered sex, like certain vibrators or penis rings.
• Cowgirl. A position where the receiving partner is on top, facing their partner.
• Creampie. Term for ejaculating inside a partner.
• Cunnilingus. The formal term for oral sex performed on a vulva.
• Cybersex. Sexual activity conducted online, often over a live video feed, which can include erotic conversation and masturbation.
• Cyberskin. A patented material made to look and feel like human skin, used in realistic toys like dildos, vibrators, and masturbators.

D

• Deep Throat. A style of oral sex that takes a partner's penis in to the base. It requires managing the gag reflex and finding a breathing rhythm, and some products are designed to help with the former.
• Desensitizing Agent. An ingredient in creams, sprays, or lubes that dulls nerve sensation to help delay ejaculation or orgasm, also used in some anal lubes and deep-throat products.
• Dial. A rotating control, usually set into a toy's base, used to turn it on and off and adjust vibration strength.
• Dildo. A toy shaped like a penis, made for vaginal or anal penetration, often used interchangeably with dong, though dildos tend to look more realistic.
• Dong. A toy made for vaginal or anal penetration, often used interchangeably with dildo, though dongs tend to look less realistic.
• Doggy-style Sex. A position where the receiving partner faces away from their partner, bent forward on hands and knees.
• Dolphin. A vibrator with one large tickler for clitoral stimulation, as opposed to the two ticklers on a rabbit vibrator.
• Dominant. The partner who takes the lead in a BDSM-style scene, sometimes called master or mistress, within limits the partners agreed on beforehand.
• DP. Short for double penetration, when a partner has a penis or toy in the vagina and the anus at the same time.
• Dry Hump. Thrusting that simulates sex without penetration, often with underwear or clothing still on.
• Double Dong. A dong with a head at each end, 12 to 30 inches long, made so two partners can use it together.
• Double Penetration. Penetration of the vagina and anus at the same time.
• Dual Stimulator Vibrator. A vibrator built to stimulate more than one area at once, like a rabbit vibrator's tickler for the clitoris alongside shaft stimulation for penetration.
• Dungeon. A room set up for BDSM play, often outfitted with chains, restraints, and related equipment.

E

• Edging. Approaching the edge of orgasm, then pausing before continuing, repeated to build toward a stronger climax. It's also used as a technique to build endurance.
• Egg Vibrators. Small, egg-shaped vibrators, usually with a remote that also houses the batteries. They're often used to add vibration to other toys, like love dolls or penis rings, as much as for direct stimulation.
• Erectile Dysfunction. The inability to get or maintain an erection. Erectile dysfunction is common, and a 2021 survey of US men found it becomes more common with age.
• Erection Ring. A snug ring worn around the penis to help maintain an erection and delay ejaculation.
• Erogenous Zone. Any especially sensitive area that can be stimulated for pleasure, commonly the nipples, clitoris, or penis.
• Erotica. Literature with a sexual focus, written to arouse or provide pleasure, usually centered on the act of sex itself.
• Erotic Fiction. Sensual fiction focused on the romantic and sexual relationship between characters, often with more emotional depth than erotica.
• Exchanging DNA. Slang for sexual intercourse.
• Extensions. Toys that fit around the tip of the penis to add length or girth.

F

• Face Sitting. Slang for when the partner receiving oral sex kneels directly over the other partner's mouth.
• Falsies. Padding worn in a bra or clothing to conceal the nipples and make the breasts look larger.
• Fan Fiction. Fiction written by fans, often imagining relationships between characters from an existing piece of media or between celebrities.
• Fellatio. Oral stimulation of the penis using the mouth, tongue, or lips.
• Fingering. Using fingers for vaginal or anal penetration.
• Foot Worship. Focused attention on the feet, including kissing or sucking on toes.
• Fornication. Sexual intercourse between unmarried people. The word is often used in a judgmental sense.
• Friends With Benefits. Friends who have casual sex with each other without a romantic relationship.

G

• G-Spot. A particularly sensitive area in the upper vaginal wall. Stimulating it can lead to intense orgasms, sometimes along with squirting (see Squirting below).
• G-Spot Tip. The enlarged, curved tip found on toys built for G-spot stimulation, designed to make it easier to reach.
• G-spot Vibrator. A vibrator with a curved tip shaped for G-spot stimulation.
• Glass Toys. Toys made from glass. Glass holds temperature well, so it can be warmed or cooled for a different sensation, and it cleans easily, including in boiling water or a dishwasher. Many glass toys are handmade, which is part of why they often cost more.
• Greek. Slang for anal sex.

H

• Handjob. Stroking or stimulating a partner's genitals by hand until orgasm.
• Hardness. A euphemism, often used in romance writing, for an erection.
• Harness. A toy used to hold a dildo or dong in place for strap-on sex.
• Head. Slang for oral sex.
• Hooking up. Meeting someone with the intention of having sex.
• Hypoallergenic. A term for products described as less likely to cause an allergic reaction. It's commonly applied to silicone or glass toys, though it describes quality of material more than a guarantee for every body.

I

• Internal Stimulator: The portion of a toy that delivers sensations to inner nerves.

J

• Jack off. Slang for male masturbation.
• Jactation. Bragging about having had sex with a well-known or popular person.
• Jawbreaking. Slang for oral sex on an especially large penis.
• Jimmy cap. Slang for a condom.
• Jelly. A material used for sex toys, dildos, and dongs. Jelly is firm enough for penetration but has some give, which many people describe as a softer, more flexible feel.
• Jollies. Slang for thrills or pleasure, especially of a sexual nature.
• Jolly Roger. Slang for a penis.
• Joy Buzzer. Slang for the clitoris.

K

• Kegel Exercises. Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, the muscles involved in bladder control and sexual function in both men and women. Cleveland Clinic notes they can help with bowel and bladder control, as well as prevent muscle weakening.

L

• Leather. Material from cattle skin, ranging from smooth and flexible to stiff, used in lingerie, clothing, and BDSM wear.
• Leg Restraint. Used in bondage play to limit a partner's leg movement, often attached to a bedpost and paired with wrist restraints.
• Libido. A person's level of sexual interest or desire.
• Love Dolls. A general term for toys shaped like a person, used to simulate sex, with one or more openings or an insertable piece built for penetration.
• Lube. A liquid used during sex to make penetration smoother and more comfortable, available in different formulas for anal sex, oral sex, and other uses.
• Lust. A strong, often sudden, sexual desire for someone.

M

• Masochism. In a BDSM context, gaining pleasure from receiving pain or punishment.
• Massage Oil. A thin oil used during massage to reduce friction and improve sensation. Some include scent or a warming effect.
• Massage Vibrator. A vibrator built for a relaxing muscle massage, not intended for penetration. This could be wands or other external style vibrators.
• Masturbators. Toys made for masturbation with a penis, typically built from a soft material for comfort.
• Ménage à Trois. French for "household of three," commonly used to mean a threesome.
• MILF. Slang for an attractive, middle-aged woman.
• Missionary. A position with the receiving partner on their back, facing the partner on top.
• Mutual Masturbation. Two or more people masturbating together, in front of each other.

N

• Nightie. A short, often sheer nightgown, usually paired with matching panties.
• Nipple Clamps. Toys that fit over the nipple and apply light pressure or pinch for added arousal.
• Nipple Pumps. Toys that create a vacuum seal over the nipples to increase blood flow, which can make them larger and more sensitive.
• No List. A list of performers an adult-film star won't work with.
• Nubs. Small raised bumps on a toy that add stimulation.

O

• O-ring. A rubber ring used to create a watertight seal.
• Oral Sex. Using the mouth and tongue on a partner's genitals.
• Orgy. Group sex involving five or more people.

P

• Panther. Slang for an older woman who seeks out younger men.
• Pearls. Small beads built into a toy or vibrator for extra stimulation.
• Pegging. One partner using a strap-on dildo to penetrate another partner anally, sometimes called role reversal. Like other anal play, it works best with a relaxed pace, plenty of lube, and an ongoing yes from the partner being penetrated, who can pause or stop at any point.
• Penis Pump. A toy that fits around the penis and uses suction to increase blood flow, temporarily increasing length and girth. Results are often paired with a penis ring afterward to help maintain the size.
• Penis Ring. A toy worn snugly around the penis to restrict blood flow, which can extend endurance and make orgasm take longer. Some versions add a bullet or egg vibrator for a partner, or extra straps around the testicles.
• Pink. Slang for the vagina.
• Pile Driver. A position with the receiving partner resting on their shoulders, torso lifted, while the other partner stands over them.
• Pleasure Nubs. Larger raised bumps near the base of a vibrator, used for extra clitoral stimulation.
• Pleasure Pearls. Another name for Ben Wa balls, or small beads embedded inside a toy or vibrator for added sensation.
• Pocket Rocket. A small, discreet vibrator that fits easily in a pocket or bag, often used while traveling.
• Prostate. A gland in the male body that can be stimulated for more intense orgasms, sometimes called the male G-spot.
• Pulsating patterns. A vibrator setting that automatically cycles the vibration on and off or between speeds, with several presets to choose from.
• Pumps. Any toy that creates a vacuum seal over a body part to increase blood flow and sensation.
• Push-Button. A control style on vibrators and some toys, where a button cycles through speeds or patterns.

Q

• Queef. A noise made when air trapped in the vagina is pushed out during sex.
• Quickie. Short, fast sex that usually skips foreplay.

R

• Rabbit Vibrators. A vibrator style known for strong clitoral stimulation, named for the two ears that vibrate against the clitoris.
• Raised Veins. Raised, vein-like ridges on a vibrator, dildo, or dong, used for extra sensation during penetration.
• Release Valve. A valve on a toy pump that releases suction quickly and safely.
• Realistic. Describes a toy or material made to look or feel like real skin or anatomy.
• Remote. A control feature on egg vibrators and some other toys, often housing the batteries as well.
• Renewal Powder. A powder, similar to cornstarch, used to maintain Cyberskin and other realistic materials.
• Reverse Cowgirl. A position with the receiving partner on top, facing away from their partner.
• Ribs. Raised ridges on a vibrator, dildo, dong, or the inside of a masturbator, used for extra sensation during penetration.
• Rimming. Oral sex performed on and around the anus.
• Role Playing. Acting out a fantasy by taking on characters, with both partners agreeing to the scenario in advance.
• Rotating Shaft. A feature on some rabbit and G-spot vibrators where the shaft turns in a full circle.
• Rotating Pearls. Beads inside a rotating shaft that move independently for added sensation.

S

• Safe word. A word or signal partners agree on in advance to pause or stop a sexual activity immediately, no explanation needed. Because people sometimes use words like no or stop as part of roleplay, many partners choose a word that wouldn't come up naturally during sex, so there's no mistaking what it means.
• Sapphic. A synonym for lesbian, from the ancient Greek poet Sappho, who lived on the island of Lesbos, the source of the word lesbian.
• Scissor Position. A position where partners interlock their legs so their genitals meet. It allows a distinct angle of penetration that some find less comfortable than others.
• Sex Positive Standards. The philosophy behind Adam & Eve: emphasizing sexual pleasure through safer sex, education, sexual health, and informed consent.
• Sex Swing. A toy that suspends one partner to allow new angles, deeper or more comfortable penetration, and easier positioning for both partners.
• Shaft. The part of the penis between the head and the base, or the corresponding part of a vibrator or toy used for penetration.
• Silicone. A smooth, durable material widely used for sex toys. It holds its shape under repeated use, resists odor and staining, and is easy to clean, which is why it's a common choice for toy bodies, inserts, and sleeves.
• Silicone-based. Describes a lube or lotion with silicone as its main ingredient. These lubes tend to cost more than water-based options but last longer, hold up in water, and clean up easily.
• Sleeves. A toy accessory that fits over a vibrator for new sensations, usually lined with ticklers, or a separate hand-held toy for masturbation.
• Spinner. Slang for a petite partner turning in a circle while riding on top during sex.
• Squirting. Term for when fluid is released from the vagina during orgasm. The available research points to that fluid being mostly urine stored in the bladder rather than a separate arousal fluid. See Sex Terms People Often Get Wrong below for more on what the evidence shows and its limits.
• Stimulators. Any toy or feature used to arouse a partner or add to a sexual experience.
• Strap on. A dildo or dong worn in a harness, built to stand in for a penis during sex.
• Strokers. Slang for hand-held toys used for masturbation with a penis.
• Spanish Fly. An aphrodisiac originally made from a plant, now used more generally to mean any aphrodisiac marketed to men.
• Spooning. Two partners lying on their sides, pressed together. Also the name of the position itself.
• Submissive. Often shortened to sub, the partner who has agreed to give up control to the dominant partner within limits they've set together in advance. A submissive can withdraw that agreement at any time, often by using a safe word.
• Subservient. A partner in a BDSM-style dynamic who follows directions from the dominant partner, within boundaries both people agreed to ahead of time.
• Sugar Daddy or Sugar Momma. A wealthy older partner who supports a younger partner financially, covering things like housing, bills, or gifts.
• Swinger. Someone in a committed relationship who has sex with other people with their partner's knowledge and agreement.
• Swizzle Sticks. A longer, thinner style of butt plug, usually 5 to 7 inches long and under an inch wide, often textured with ridges for extra sensation.

T

• Taint. The perineum, the area of skin between the anus and the base of the testicles or the vulva, which some people enjoy having stimulated.
• T-base. A flat base that flares out from a toy's shaft, shaped like the top of a letter T, common on butt plugs and other toys designed for anal play.
• Taboo. An act considered unusual or unacceptable by mainstream culture at a given time. What counts as taboo changes across eras and communities.
• Tea-bagging. Slang for sucking on a partner's testicles, often during a blowjob.
• Teddy. A piece of lingerie combining a fitted top and high-cut bottoms.
• Threesome. Sex involving three people at once.
• Ticklers. Thin, flexible pieces of material on a toy, built to stand out and transmit vibration, commonly used for direct clitoral stimulation or extra sensation during penetration.
• Tongue Banging. Using the tongue during oral sex to mimic thrusting penetration.
• Top. Slang for the partner who does the penetrating, commonly used to describe gay sex.
• Train. A line of people performing sexual acts on each other in sequence.
• Tribbing. Two partners rubbing their vulvas together.

U

• Underboob. The visible cleavage below the breasts.
• Urban Cougar. An older woman who seeks out younger men, typically associated with bars and clubs.

V

• Vaginal Beads. A string of balls in varying sizes made for vaginal insertion and stimulation.
• Vaginal Pumps. Toys that fit over the vulva and use suction to increase blood flow and sensation.
• Vanilla Sex. Straightforward, missionary-style sex without additional positions, anal play, or toys.
• Veined. Describes a toy with raised, vein-like lines along the shaft, added for extra sensation during penetration.
• Venus Vibrator. Another name for a butterfly vibrator, worn against the vulva with a strap for hands-free clitoral stimulation.
• Vibe. A common nickname for a vibrator.
• Vibrating Ring. A penis ring paired with a vibrator, restricting blood flow for longer endurance while a bullet or egg vibrator stimulates a partner, built for shared use.
• Vibrator. A battery- or plug-powered toy that vibrates, usually at high speed, to deliver more intense stimulation when used on or near an erogenous zone. Vibrators come in many styles built for different kinds of stimulation.

W

• Wand Massagers. A vibrator with a flexible tip and a long handle, built mainly for external and clitoral stimulation. Many double as mainstream back massagers and run stronger than most other vibrator styles.
• Water-based. Describes a lube with water as its main ingredient. Water-based lubes are generally affordable, compatible with most toys, materials, and condoms, and easy to clean up.
• Waterproof. Describes a toy safe to use in water, like a shower, bath, or hot tub, usually identifiable by a rubber seal around the battery compartment or controls.
• Worship. Focused attention on a specific body part, usually through licking, kissing, rubbing, or sucking, commonly applied to breasts or feet.
• Wrist Restraint. A toy used in consensual bondage play to limit wrist or arm movement, sometimes paired with leg restraints.

X

• X-rated. A rating that signals adult content.

Y

• Yarbles. Slang for testicles.

Z

• Zebra'd. Slang for wearing a bra in a contrasting color visible under clothing.
• Zelophile. Someone who becomes sexually excited by a partner's jealousy.
• Zipper sex. Oral sex performed quickly, without fully undressing.

Numbers and abbreviations

• 69. A position where two partners perform oral sex on each other at the same time.

Several entries in this dictionary involve consent, protection, or power exchange, and the same ground rule applies across every one of them. Agreeing to one activity is not agreement to another, and either partner can pause or stop at any point, for any reason.

Safe word. A safe word is a word or signal partners agree on before starting, reserved specifically for pausing or stopping. Scarleteen notes that because people sometimes use words like no or stop as part of roleplay, many partners choose a word that wouldn't come up naturally during sex, so there's no mistaking what it means when someone says it.

Bareback. Bareback means vaginal or anal sex without a condom. The CDC notes that consistent, correct condom use is highly effective at reducing the spread of HIV and other STIs. Whether to go bareback is a decision partners make together, usually after talking about testing and protection.

Pegging. Pegging is when one partner uses a strap-on dildo to penetrate another partner anally, sometimes called role reversal. Like any anal play, it works best with a relaxed pace, plenty of lube, and an ongoing yes from the partner being penetrated, who can pause or stop at any point.

BDSM roles. Terms like dominant and submissive describe roles inside a scene that partners build together in advance, including limits and safe words. These definitions aren't an endorsement or a nudge to try anything.

A couple of terms in this dictionary get repeated online in ways the evidence doesn't fully back up.

ASMR gets flattened in the opposite direction. Some online definitions treat it as inherently sexual content. In its mainstream and far more common form, ASMR is a tingling, relaxing response to certain tactile, audio, or visual triggers, like whispering, tapping, or close personal attention. A sexualized subgenre of ASMR content does exist, but it's one corner of a broader, mostly non-sexual phenomenon, not what the term means by default.

Hypoallergenic is a description of toy quality and material. It indicates that a product is safe for most people, even those with allergies and sensitivities. It is not a guarantee, and allergic reaction can still occur for some.

Don't just read about it, try it for yourself. One thing that can support most any exploration is a good water-based lube, Adam & Eve Lubricant is a top pick in that category. If you're looking for a versatile toy that can adventure with you. consider the Satisfyer Pro 2 and Eve's Blooms of Bliss.

Knowing the vocabulary can make finding what you want easier. When lube and other sexual wellness basics are next on your list, Adam & Eve's full selection is worth a look.