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

But their mainstream goals couldn’t differ more from what PinkPantheress wants for herself. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

Bryan’s pro-Palestinian stage gesture adds to a noticeable shift among mainstream artists speaking openly about their support for Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing strikes on Gaza. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Adjective

While Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther wasn’t the first Black superhero to make it to the big screen, the film broke box office records, proving that a predominantly Black cast and superhero story could have mainstream success. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

As such, the narratives constructed by mainstream media outlets are not mere reflections of events but active tools of persuasion. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

The tie-up arrives as anime graduates from niche fandom to mainstream commercial territory. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Disaffected conservatives have created new publications, such as The Bulwark and The Contrarian, that cater to a spectrum of readers, from moderate Republicans to mainstream Democrats. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 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