mainstream

1 of 3

noun

main·​stream ˈmān-ˌstrēm 

: a prevailing current or direction of activity or influence

mainstream adjective

mainstream

2 of 3

adjective

main·​stream

: having, reflecting, or being compatible with the prevailing attitudes and values of a society or group

mainstream media

movies that appeal to a mainstream audience

mainstream success

mainstream

3 of 3

verb

main·​stream ˈmān-ˈstrēm 

mainstreamed; mainstreaming; mainstreams

transitive verb

1

: to place (a student, such as a disabled child) in regular school classes

2

: to incorporate in the mainstream

Examples of mainstream in a Sentence

Verb

The poor should be mainstreamed into the private health-insurance system.

Ideas that were once controversial have now become mainstreamed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hair oiling has moved from an old-school ritual to a mainstream pre-wash step, and readers want to know whether applying oil to the scalp before shampoo actually delivers results. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

As K-pop continues to cement its place in the global mainstream, capitalizing on the interest in the form of music festivals has become increasingly more common. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Adjective

There’s not an exact count of the number of local regulations and ordinances that have been passed since robotaxis have gone mainstream. — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026

This winsome experience—socialism as socializing—has filled a gap left by the increasingly professionalized mainstream political parties. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Verb

Growing the nonalcoholic pie To keep drinkers who trade down, Heineken sells at every price point, from premium Birra Moretti to mainstream Cruzcampo and budget Foster’s. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

All these benefits could eventually help bring sodium batteries closer to mainstream adoption than just depending on lithium ones. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1955, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1974, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mainstream

• the mainstream

Rhymes for mainstream

• abeam
• airstream
• bloodstream
• daydream
• downstream
• esteem
• extreme
• grapheme
• hakim
• hornbeam
• lexeme
• midstream

Kids Definition

mainstream

noun

main·​stream

-ˌstrēm

: the principal current or direction of activity or influence

Medical Definition

mainstream

adjective

main·​stream ˌmān-ˌstrēm 

: relating to or being smoke that is drawn (as from a cigarette) directly into the mouth of the smoker and is usually inhaled into the lungs compare sidestream