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
The 2027 and 2028 Oscars will also be the last two ceremonies held at the Dolby Theatre after more than a quarter century at the Hollywood mainstay.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The sprawling gardens surrounding the hotel, designed by Xavier de Chirac, complement the building’s majestic architecture—Irish yews, white hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons, and Japanese maples, to name a few mainstays.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Faust, who played tunes by ear without the use of sheet music, remained a mainstay at Chicago White Sox home games for 41 seasons.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Must-have Peruvian dishes, including ceviches ($21-$25), lomo saltado ($31) and aji de gallina ($26), are menu mainstays, with some more familiar American options like salads available as well.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
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Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The sprawling gardens surrounding the hotel, designed by Xavier de Chirac, complement the building’s majestic architecture—Irish yews, white hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons, and Japanese maples, to name a few mainstays.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Faust, who played tunes by ear without the use of sheet music, remained a mainstay at Chicago White Sox home games for 41 seasons.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Must-have Peruvian dishes, including ceviches ($21-$25), lomo saltado ($31) and aji de gallina ($26), are menu mainstays, with some more familiar American options like salads available as well.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 7 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 14 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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