(Z)-Stilbene is a diarylethene, that is, a hydrocarbon consisting of a cis ethene double bond substituted with a phenyl group on both carbon atoms of the double bond.

The name stilbene was derived from the Greek word stilbos, which means shining.

(Z)-Stilbene is sterically hindered and less stable because the steric interactions force the aromatic rings 43° out-of-plane and prevent conjugation.

Many stilbene derivatives (stilbenoids) are present naturally in plants.

An example is resveratrol and its cousin, pterostilbene.