one-night stand

noun

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Definition of one-night stand

1 : a performance (as of a play or concert) given (as by a traveling group of actors or musicians) only once in each of a series of localities

2 a : a locality used for one-night stands

b : a stopover for a one-night stand

3 : a sexual encounter limited to a single occasion; also : a partner in such an encounter

See one-night stand defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of one-night stand from the Web

The actress has revealed that all of the crazy one-night stands, sexcapades, and OMG-inducing moments are based on real events.

— refinery29.com, "Sex & The City," 6 June 2018
Be aware that the other woman might have gotten pregnant from this glorious one-night stand.

— amy dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Family opts out of destination wedding," 12 May 2018
Some of those were ex-girlfriends and one-night stands.

— steve rushin, SI.com, "How the World Has Changed in the 25 Years Since the Final Cheers Episode," 22 May 2018
There have been a lot of twists and turns in the ever-unfolding story of Stephanie Clifford’s alleged one-night stand with future president Donald Trump.

— BostonGlobe.com, "A timeline of the Stormy Daniels-Donald Trump saga," 4 May 2018
Be aware that the other woman might have gotten pregnant from this glorious one-night stand.

— amy dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Family opts out of destination wedding," 12 May 2018
Be aware that the other woman might have gotten pregnant from this glorious one-night stand.

— BostonGlobe.com, "She’s upset many in her family are skipping her wedding," 10 May 2018
After the show’s maiden Lincoln Center run, a tour booker sent me off to perform it as a one-night stand whenever my schedule allowed.

— john lithgow, New York Times, "John Lithgow, on Barnstorming His Way to Broadway," 9 Jan. 2018
There's no emotional cheating equivalent to a one-night stand.

— diana vilibert, Marie Claire, "Is Emotional or Physical Cheating Worse?," 19 Feb. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'one-night stand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of one-night stand

1880

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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ONE-NIGHT STAND Defined for English Language Learners

one-night stand

noun

Definition of one-night stand for English Language Learners

: a situation in which you have sex with someone once and you do not continue in a relationship afterwards; also : one of the people involved in this situation
: a performance of a play, concert, etc., that is given only once in a particular place