Promiscuity is common in many animal species. A scientific study published in 2005 found that promiscuous men and women are both prone to derogatory judgment. Historically, stereotypes of the promiscuous woman have tended to be pejorative, such as 'the slut' or 'the harlot', while male stereotypes have been more varied, some expressing approval, such as 'the stud' or 'the player', while others imply societal deviance, such as 'the womanizer' or 'the philanderer'. Feminists have traditionally argued a significant double standard exists between how men and women are judged for promiscuity.

Different standards are often applied to different genders and civil statutes. What sexual behavior is considered promiscuous varies between cultures, as does the prevalence of promiscuity. A common example of behavior viewed as promiscuous by many cultures is the one-night stand, and its frequency is used by researchers as a marker for promiscuity.

The term can carry a moral judgment if the social ideal for sexual activity is monogamous relationships. Promiscuity is the practice of engaging in sexual activity frequently with different partners or being indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners. For other uses, see Promiscuous (disambiguation).