ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dom

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈdɑm// dom Slang

n. a person who takes the leading or controlling role in a specific type of relationship. It is a short way of saying 'dominant' and is mostly used in casual or private contexts.

n. the partner who assumes a controlling or assertive role within a consensual power-exchange relationship. Informal in register; functions as a clipped form of 'dominant'.


SIMPLE

They discussed their roles as dom and sub before starting.

CONTEXTUAL

In certain social subcultures, a dom is expected to set the rules and boundaries for the group's activities.

COMPLEX

The novel explores the psychological dynamics between a dom and their partner, focusing on the trust required to maintain such a structured power imbalance.

Etymology 1

Clipping of dominance, dominant, dominate, or domination.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Portuguese dom. Doublet of domine, dominie, dominus, and don.

Usage

Often paired with 'sub' (submissive) as a binary set of roles.

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