mainspring
noun
main·spring
ˈmān-ˌspriŋ 
1
: the chief spring in a mechanism especially of a watch or clock
2
: the chief or most powerful motive, agent, or cause
Examples of mainspring in a Sentence
Agriculture is the mainspring of their economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
This undying, uninterrupted devotion to their fanbase is, perhaps, the mainspring of the band’s success.
—
Spin Contributor, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
The mainspring barrel was redesigned, and Jaeger replaced some key components with silicon parts, which makes energy transmission smoother by reducing friction when the watch is running.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2024
But the complicated watch goes further: its hefty mainspring is wound using a 60-facet bezel only once a month.
—Elizabeth Doerr, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2023
In addition, its bi-directional pawl winding system builds up a power reserve of 46 hours in the mainspring.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 3 May 2023
But his family life is the mainspring of the drama.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2023
The interstellar military conflict is the mainspring of the story, and a link in what is intended to be an ongoing series.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2022
An utterly absurd car chase and a fight ensue—so does a warm personal relationship between Emily and Youcef, which provides the mainspring of the movie’s drama.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2022
Here was an opportunity to acquire and restore the old mainspring.
—Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Aug. 2022
Spin Contributor, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
The mainspring barrel was redesigned, and Jaeger replaced some key components with silicon parts, which makes energy transmission smoother by reducing friction when the watch is running.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2024
But the complicated watch goes further: its hefty mainspring is wound using a 60-facet bezel only once a month.
—Elizabeth Doerr, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2023
In addition, its bi-directional pawl winding system builds up a power reserve of 46 hours in the mainspring.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 3 May 2023
But his family life is the mainspring of the drama.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2023
The interstellar military conflict is the mainspring of the story, and a link in what is intended to be an ongoing series.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2022
An utterly absurd car chase and a fight ensue—so does a warm personal relationship between Emily and Youcef, which provides the mainspring of the movie’s drama.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2022
Here was an opportunity to acquire and restore the old mainspring.
—Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Aug. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mainspring.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mainspring
Cite this Entry
“Mainspring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainspring. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mainspring
noun
main·spring
ˈmān-ˌspriŋ
1
: the principal spring in a mechanical device (as a watch or clock)
2
: the chief or most powerful motive or cause
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share