Bottom

Bottom describes someone who prefers the receptive role during penetrative sex, most often used among men who have sex with men but also in lesbian, heterosexual, and BDSM contexts. It pairs with "top," the penetrative role, and "versatile," someone who does both. Beyond the mechanics, the words also hint at personality and power dynamics, which is where phrases like "power bottom" come from. The terms are descriptions of preference, not fixed identities or rules, and many people move between roles. Bottom shaming, treating the receptive role as lesser, reflects internalized stigma rather than any real hierarchy.