Slang dictionary
dry humping
[drahy] [huhmp]
What does dry humping mean?
Dry humping is sexual activity that doesn’t involve direct contact between genitals (dry referring to the lack of bodily fluid exchanged). It can involve various sexual behaviors, including (but not limited to) rubbing or touching a partner through their clothing.
Where does dry humping come from?
Dry hump has existed in popular slang since at least the 1960s. The use of the word hump with sexual connotations was recorded as early as 1785. Dry hump most likely emerged as an extension of this usage, with the modifier dry referring to the absence of bodily fluids and skin-on-skin contact.
Examples of dry humping
Who uses dry humping?
Dry humping is often used to discuss outer sex, or sexual activity that doesn’t involve penetration and doesn’t risk pregnancy or STIs. It’s an option for people who want to engage sexually without losing their virginity or face the possibility of pregnancy. Dry humping might even refer to sexual activity with a pillow, mattress, or other object, since this also involves no chance of pregnancy or fluid exchange.
Dry humping can also be a form of foreplay that precedes penetrative sex or direct genital contact. The partnered dance move, grinding, which involves two people standing chest-to-back and gyrating their hips together, might also be described as dry humping.
The term dry humping is seen as unromantic by many. In the book Hooking Up: A Girl’s All-Out Guide to Sex and Sexuality Amber Madison gives her opinion on the expression: “Dry humping is undoubtedly the most unappealing name for a sexual act.” She continues by saying that it does not sound like “something you want your boyfriend to do to you.”
Humor can be found in the term dry humping. Comedian, writer, and actress Tina Fey includes it no less than twice in her book Bossypants. In a section of her book where she lists her hopes for her daughter, she writes: “Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short…[a]nd adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.” Fey clearly views dry humping as a practice of adolescence and young adulthood.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of dry humping like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of dry humping that will help our users expand their word mastery.