plural mainstays
1
a
: a crucial or key part of something
Fish is the mainstay of their diet.
Tourism is a mainstay of the city's economy.
The mainstay of treatment for chronic hives of unknown origin is antihistamine medications.—
Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Mayo Clinic Health Letter
b
: someone or something that is a principal or reliable support or resource
Tourism is one of the city's economic mainstays.
Her immense pride in him and unquestioning support were among the few mainstays in his life.—Robert V. Remini
Robert V. Remini2
: a ship's stay (see stay entry 1 sense 1) extending from the maintop forward usually to the foot of the foremast
Examples of mainstay in a Sentence
Fish is a mainstay of their diet.
My mother has always been the mainstay of our family.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brown accessories are mainstays for the supermodel—soft loafers, a hobo bag, belt, and sunglasses, all in a chocolate tone, offer those finishing touches that never lose their urban appeal.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
Cabo Cabo is popping with new and renovated hotels, further bolstering its front-row positioning as a Hollywood travel mainstay.
—Carole Dixon, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Martin was a 12th-round pick out of USC but became a mainstay on the Raiders' defense, starting 147 of his 165 career games across his 12-year career, all of which were with the Raiders.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Artists including Ackerman, Philip Aaberg, Alex De Grassi, Barbara Higbie, Michael Manring, Darol Anger and Liz Story appear in the film, alongside archival interviews with mainstays such as the late George Winston and Michael Hedges.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
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Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
Cabo Cabo is popping with new and renovated hotels, further bolstering its front-row positioning as a Hollywood travel mainstay.
—Carole Dixon, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Martin was a 12th-round pick out of USC but became a mainstay on the Raiders' defense, starting 147 of his 165 career games across his 12-year career, all of which were with the Raiders.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Artists including Ackerman, Philip Aaberg, Alex De Grassi, Barbara Higbie, Michael Manring, Darol Anger and Liz Story appear in the film, alongside archival interviews with mainstays such as the late George Winston and Michael Hedges.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
Cite this Entry
“Mainstay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainstay. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mainstay
noun
main·stay
-ˌstā 
1
: a large strong rope running from the maintop of a ship usually to the foot of the foremast
2
: a chief support
the mainstay of the family
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