barebacking

(slang, sex) Without a condom.

A person who engages in barebacking — that is, sexual intercourse without a condom or other barrier protection. Originally used primarily within gay male communities in discussions around HIV/AIDS risk, the term has since broadened in usage to describe unprotected sex more generally. It is typically used in a matter-of-fact or clinical register within sexual health contexts, though it can also appear in casual conversation. Carries implications of risk-taking behaviour depending on context.

(slang, sex) A person who engages in barebacking.

Has three distinct meanings. Most prominently in contemporary slang: sexual activity without a condom. Literally: riding a horse without a saddle. And historically: shirtless. The sexual sense now dominates in informal contexts, while the equestrian meaning remains current in its own domain. All three senses share the core concept of doing something without its usual covering or protection. In the HIV prevention context, barebacking became a medically significant behavior category, and the term entered public health discourse accordingly alongside its slang use.

A term with three distinct registers. In equestrian contexts, 'bareback' simply means riding a horse without a saddle. In dated informal use it could mean shirtless. Most relevant to slang dictionaries is the sexual slang sense: having penetrative sex without a condom. This usage is especially prevalent in gay male communities and in explicit adult content, but has broader informal currency. The condomless sense carries risk-awareness implications and is used both matter-of-factly and loaded with connotation depending on context.