Side - meaning and definition
Alsosidesside guy
Definition
Used mostly among gay and bisexual men to describe someone who enjoys intimacy but prefers not to have penetrative sex, identifying as neither top nor bottom.
At a glance
- Describes a preference for intimacy without penetrative sex.
- Used mostly among gay and bisexual men, as neither top nor bottom.
- Sides may enjoy kissing, touching and many other kinds of intimacy.
- Naming it helps avoid assumptions about what sex involves.
In detail
The term was popularised in the 2010s to name a preference that many people have but lacked a word for. Sides may enjoy kissing, touching and many other kinds of intimacy.
Naming it on a profile helps avoid assumptions and makes clear that sex is broader than one activity.
In a sentence
- Side here, so let's talk about what we both enjoy before assuming anything.
- I didn't know there was a word for it until I read about sides.
Where the word comes from
The term was proposed by US psychotherapist Joe Kort in 2013 to name a preference he saw among many gay and bisexual men who did not identify as top, bottom or versatile.
Common questions
Is side a recognised label?
It is newer than top and bottom, but it is increasingly used on apps and in community discussions. Many people find it helpful because it shows that intimacy is broader than one activity.