BlogDefinitions
Kink and Fetish Definitions
What kink, fetish, BDSM and switch mean, where the words came from, and how each differs from the terms it gets confused with.
4 articlesUpdated 27 Sep 2026RSS
Definitions articles
Definitions5 min read
Is collecting a fetish, and when does it stop being one
Is collecting a fetish? Only in the everyday sense: a non-sexual drive to complete sets, estimated at 18 percent of adults, and distinct from hoarding.
Definitions5 min read
What a switch is, and how switching works
What is a switch in BDSM? A person who takes both dominant and submissive roles, estimated at 12 percent of adults, with survey shares and history.
Definitions8 min read
What BDSM stands for, and what it covers
What does BDSM stand for? Bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism: what each pair means, how common it is, where the lines are.
Definitions8 min read
Kink vs fetish, the difference and where the words come from
Kink is the everyday word for any unconventional sexual interest. Fetish means arousal tied to an object or body part. Where they overlap and where they part.