one-night stand.
A single sexual encounter without an immediate intention or expectation of a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship.
What does one-night stand mean?
A one-night stand is a single sexual encounter in which at least one person does not immediately intend or expect an ongoing sexual or romantic relationship. The phrase can also name a person involved in such an encounter.
The label does not necessarily mean the people were strangers, never spoke again, or later agreed about what the encounter meant. It describes the encounter and its immediate expectations. Separately, the phrase can refer to a performer appearing at a venue for one evening.
See how it lands.
Original examples written for this entry, not quotations from the sources.
They described the encounter as a one-night stand.
She said she was not looking for a one-night stand.
The right word.
The right moment.
Use it when discussing the meaning of a quotation or the description the people involved give to an encounter. Keep assumptions about feelings separate.
Avoid inferring that people were strangers, that nobody had feelings, or that a private encounter is something an outsider can label confidently.
Not quite the same as…
hookup
Hookup is a broader casual-encounter term. One-night stand adds the idea of a single encounter without immediate expectations of an ongoing relationship.
A little backstory.
The linked reference documents this meaning. This entry does not establish a single inventor or a first-use date; a dictionary record and a current popularity measurement answer different questions.
Supported by Wiktionary contributors
Still wondering?
Does it mean the people never meet again?
No. The definition concerns the encounter and immediate intentions or expectations, not a rule about every future meeting.
Is there a nonsexual meaning?
Yes. A performer’s single-evening engagement at a venue is a separate reading. A tour announcement can supply that context.
Sources & checks
Meaning and factual notes are informed by the references below. Examples and usage advice are original editorial writing. A source documents use; it does not measure current popularity.
- one-night stand — meaning and usage ↗Wiktionary contributors · checked 20 Oct 2026Supports: meaning; distinct senses