mainstream

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

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

As zero-proof drinks move from novelty to mainstream, understanding what’s swirling around in your glass matters more than ever. —Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026

As more owners retire and succession challenges grow, acquisition entrepreneurship is quickly moving from niche strategy to mainstream business opportunity. —Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

His campaign is built around an appeal to mainstream Republicans, swing voters and old-school conservatives who see his defiance of Trump in 2020 as a mark of independence rather than betrayal. —Joe Kovac, AJC.com, 12 May 2026

The cold plunge has gone from athlete recovery tool to mainstream wellness obsession, and the celebrity endorsements keep coming. —Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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 tobacco smoke that is drawn (as from a cigarette) directly into the mouth of the smoker and is usually inhaled into the lungs compare sidestream