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
Kelly has been a mainstay in the lineup for the North Stars all season, but one thing had eluded him until his first career postseason at-bat.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
While fluffy pillows and supportive mattresses are mainstays, linens should be swapped when the seasons change.
—Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 29 May 2025
Garcia heads up a mainstay of the Explorer project: conservation.
—Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
None of those three mainstays of the television industry are flush with cash and heat — something that could not have been said at a single other moment of the past three decades — which means naturally lower odds of something daring getting developed.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
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Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
While fluffy pillows and supportive mattresses are mainstays, linens should be swapped when the seasons change.
—Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 29 May 2025
Garcia heads up a mainstay of the Explorer project: conservation.
—Gemma A. Williams, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
None of those three mainstays of the television industry are flush with cash and heat — something that could not have been said at a single other moment of the past three decades — which means naturally lower odds of something daring getting developed.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
Cite this Entry
“Mainstay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainstay. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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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