one-night stand

American  

[wuhn-nahyt stand] / ˈwʌnˌnaɪt ˈstænd /

noun

• one-night stands
  plural

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. Slang.

   1. a single, unrepeated sexual encounter, as one lasting for just one night.

   2. a participant in such an encounter.

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one-night stand British  

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• one-night stands
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of one-night stand

one-night stand def. 1 is an Americanism dating back to 1875–80; one-night stand def. 3 was first recorded in 1935–40.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

one-night stand

The film stars James Rottger and Elle Watson as Cameron and Eilidh - mismatched flatmates who face the prospect of parenthood after a one-night stand.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

They even elicited testimony from Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, that Cohen had promised to “rain legal hell on” her if she ever told the story of her one-night stand with Trump.

From Slate ● May 8, 2024

And, as is its wont, survival swiftly turns ruthless: Hawk plants Tim in McCarthy’s office as a reluctant double agent, and hands over the name of a one-night stand to protect a colleague under threat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2023

Although raised by a conventional Jewish couple in Armonk, north of New York City, Naomi was the product of a one-night stand between her mother and a Black scientist.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 30, 2023

October 28th, Hôtel des Arcades, Dunkerque.—Another one-night stand.

From A Journal From Our Legation in Belgium by Hugh Gibson

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