mainstay

noun

main·​stay ˈmān-ˌstā 

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

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

2

: a ship's stay (see stay entry 1 sense 1) extending from the maintop forward usually to the foot of the foremast

Synonyms

• anchor
• buttress
• dependence
• dependance
• pillar
• reliance
• standby

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

And then came the big splash the summer before the 2022-23 season, when Zito traded for Matthew Tkachuk in exchange for two Panthers mainstays and fan favorites in Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024

He was beloved by celebrities and was a mainstay on red carpets. —Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

Wright, who’s been attached to the project since 2021, is also producing along with partner Nira Park and genre mainstay Simon Kinberg. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

The menu focuses on continental flavors, with everything from paella to chicken piccata to boeuf bourguignon, plus some American mainstays. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024

On the day itself, visitors will be fed primarily by a food truck called Tammy’s Lunch Box, a mainstay at high school games, the parking lot of a hospital and weekend breakfasts at a maple farm known for its syrup. —Michael Wilson, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Plus, according to him, keeping the new locale near the family mainstay is huge. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024

Hair was clearly the mainstay of the weekend for others. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024

World Central Kitchen has quickly become a mainstay of American philanthropy, with contributions on par with much older organizations. —Ashraf Khalil, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids 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