main·stream
ˈmān-ˌstrēm 
: a prevailing current or direction of activity or influence
mainstream
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
main·stream
ˈmān-ˈstrēm
mainstreamed; mainstreaming; mainstreams
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
Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
That's in stark contrast to another recent big-budget, mainstream strategy game release (Civilization VII), which offered robust onboarding tutorials but also had a user interface that at times failed completely to indicate to players what their choices meant.
—ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
Elizabeth Rossiello, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
With thousands of tickets already sold, Miche Fest, a Chicago street festival of Latino music gone mainstream, was canceled on Tuesday just weeks before its July dates at Oakwood Beach.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
As her popularity skyrockets, Charli’s concerts have ballooned to arena-size raves, which could serve to prove that an underground musician can go mainstream while retaining that aura of subcultural cool.
—New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstream
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Noun
What was once a niche product sold in dispensaries is now a growing segment in liquor stores, delivery apps and mainstream retail—offering consumers a new way to relax, reconnect or simply replace a drink.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
That's in stark contrast to another recent big-budget, mainstream strategy game release (Civilization VII), which offered robust onboarding tutorials but also had a user interface that at times failed completely to indicate to players what their choices meant.
—ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
Adjective
The adoption of stablecoins by mainstream global liquidity providers could bring faster transactions, lower costs of doing business, and easier global transfer to businesses and individuals alike.
—Elizabeth Rossiello, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
With thousands of tickets already sold, Miche Fest, a Chicago street festival of Latino music gone mainstream, was canceled on Tuesday just weeks before its July dates at Oakwood Beach.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
Verb
Unlike battle royale games like Fortnite and Warzone, or even hero shooters like Overwatch and Valorant, the extraction shooter is a somewhat less saturated genre (at least to mainstream audiences).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
As her popularity skyrockets, Charli’s concerts have ballooned to arena-size raves, which could serve to prove that an underground musician can go mainstream while retaining that aura of subcultural cool.
—New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstream
Cite this Entry
“Mainstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainstream. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mainstream
adjective
main·stream
ˌmān-ˌstrēm
: relating to or being tobacco smoke that is drawn (as from a cigarette) directly into the mouth of the smoker and is usually inhaled into the lungs compare sidestream
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