A safeword is a pre-agreed word or short phrase a person can say during play to instantly signal that they need things to stop or slow down. Because it sits outside the usual language of a scene, it is meant to be unmistakable even when a partner is role-playing resistance or protest.
Safewords exist because some kinds of play blur the line between genuine distress and consensual struggle, so a clear out-of-character signal keeps both people on solid ground. Common setups include the traffic light system, where green means keep going, yellow means ease up, and red means stop entirely.
Worth knowing: A safeword only works if everyone agrees on it beforehand, remembers it under pressure, and honors it immediately without negotiation, and it should be paired with a check-in or aftercare plan for what happens once the scene ends.
Also called: safe word, safe word, traffic light system, green yellow red, code word, hard limit signal
