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one-night stand

[wuhn-nahyt]
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noun
  1. a single performance in one locale, as by a touring theatrical company, before moving on to the next engagement.
  2. a place where such a performance is given.
  3. Informal.
    1. a single, unrepeated sexual encounter, as one lasting for just one night.
    2. a participant in such an encounter.
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Origin of one-night stand

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

standtrystone-nighter

Examples from the Web for one-night stand

Historical Examples

  • The general atmosphere of the parlor reminded me of the stage-settings one comes across in one-night-stand theatres.

    My Actor-Husband

    Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for one-night stand

one-night stand

noun
  1. a performance given only once at any one place
  2. informal
    1. a sexual encounter lasting only one evening or night
    2. a person regarded as being only suitable for such an encounter
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012