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

It was put on by a company called Candle House, which, though little-known as of yet in the theatrical mainstream, has enough of a cult national reputation that nearly all of the 76 shows sold out pretty much just on word of mouth, at $247 a pop. — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Reisman-Aguilar’s test-and-pair approach is where mainstream sleep guidance is heading. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Adjective

When Hasabo Ibrahim first arrived in Colorado in 1998, finding halal food often meant navigating mainstream grocery stores and carefully checking products one by one. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026

This is among the many depredations that this supposedly mainstream Administration has committed. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026

Verb

Growing the nonalcoholic pie To keep drinkers who trade down, Heineken sells at every price point, from premium Birra Moretti to mainstream Cruzcampo and budget Foster’s. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

All these benefits could eventually help bring sodium batteries closer to mainstream adoption than just depending on lithium ones. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 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