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
PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
Fuentes, a white-nationalist influencer, appeared on The Tucker Carlson Show in October, which has enraged a number of prominent figures on the right and set off a spiraling conversation about where to draw the line on whom the party welcomes into its mainstream.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 15 Nov. 2025
Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The company is no slouch on the performance side of things, despite its bestselling models being mainstream cars and SUVs like the Camry and RAV4.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Those who do have access can now take their Sora creations and upload them to mainstream social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstream
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Noun
An excellent streaming service for sports fans that also features many appealing news and entertainment channels for mainstream audiences.
—PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
Fuentes, a white-nationalist influencer, appeared on The Tucker Carlson Show in October, which has enraged a number of prominent figures on the right and set off a spiraling conversation about where to draw the line on whom the party welcomes into its mainstream.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 15 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Someone who is unable to work in mainstream punditry because his face no longer fits, but is determined to raise standards among those who do as an outside agitator.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The company is no slouch on the performance side of things, despite its bestselling models being mainstream cars and SUVs like the Camry and RAV4.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
He’s gone from being a pariah to mainstream.
—Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Those who do have access can now take their Sora creations and upload them to mainstream social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 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 17 Nov. 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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