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

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.

Example Sentences

Versus the will they or won’t they attempt anything forever or it’s a one-night stand and so and so overheard this and there’s a misunderstanding.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2024

To pay homage to their lengthy one-night stand that turned into a lifelong commitment, Ms. Lopez surprised Mr. Rogers with a custom flag to hang on the mobile minibar and later at home.

From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2021

I don’t think you can say, “Will you marry me?” without also having said, “Remember that drunken one-night stand that started this romance? It turns out you were sleeping with my evil twin.”

From Slate • Jun. 20, 2021

It’s also vaguely annoying that she is made to suffer from a one-night stand by having a man, no matter how attractive, live on inside her head, constantly talking and interrupting her train of thought.

From Washington Post • Nov. 24, 2020

It was a theatrical company that had played a one-night stand at the local opera-house the evening before, and was now once more upon its wandering way.

From October Vagabonds by Le Gallienne, Richard