A one-night stand or one-night sex is a single sexual encounter in which there is an expectation that there shall be no further relations between the sexual participants. It draws its name from the common practice of a one-night stand, a single night performance by an entertainer at a venue. The practice can be described as "sexual activity without emotional commitment or future involvement".Jeffrey S. Turner, ''American Families in Crisis: A Reference Handbook'' (2009), p. 47.

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The one-night stand is the most common form of

infidelity Infidelity (synonyms include cheating, straying, adultery, being unfaithful, two-timing, or having an affair) is a violation of a couple's emotional and/or sexual exclusivity that commonly results in feelings of anger, sexual jealousy, and ri ...

and is often used in research, polls and surveys to define the level of

promiscuity Promiscuity is the practice of engaging in sexual activity frequently with different partners or being indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners. The term can carry a moral judgment. A common example of behavior viewed as promiscuous by ma ...

in a society at any given time. It has been suggested that such an act can be as threatening to a relationship as a long-term affair: Some women have suggested that women who feel sexually insecure or unfulfilled should seek out one-night stands for personal growth and fulfillment. One writes, " one-night stand is the erotic manifestation of carpe diem— only we are seizing the night instead of the day". Another source advises women seeking

empowerment Empowerment is the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities. This enables them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority. It is the process of becoming strong ...

to "jumpstart your heyday by having a one-night stand",Jodi Lipper, Cerina Vincent, ''Live Like a Hot Chick: How to Feel Sexy, Find Confidence, and Create Balance at Work and Play'' (2010), p. 167. and clarifies that the one-night stand should be a conscious decision. The prevalence of one-night stands has been abetted by the advent of online dating apps such as

Tinder Tinder is easily combustible material used to start a fire. Tinder is a finely divided, open material which will begin to glow under a shower of sparks. Air is gently wafted over the glowing tinder until it bursts into flame. The flaming tinder i ...

and Grindr, which allow people to connect for purposes including sexual encounters, although these tools can also be used to seek longer-term relationship partners.

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Relationship therapist Laura Berman suggests that the circumstances that lead to such an encounter do not necessarily preclude a later relationship: In contrast to a one-night stand, when the individuals involved have recurrent sexual contact without romantic involvement, this is considered a casual sexual relationship.

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Further relations

Fantasy

See also

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