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
Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2025
The transformation of mainstream country music into a conservative, Republican genre both reflected—and advanced—the polarization of American life that shapes our politics today.
—Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
Thrifting has become more mainstream, especially for people in her age range, Brammer said.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2025
He’s gone from being a pariah to mainstream.
—Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstream
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Noun
The award celebrates the band’s role in bringing Mexican music into mainstream audiences.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2025
The transformation of mainstream country music into a conservative, Republican genre both reflected—and advanced—the polarization of American life that shapes our politics today.
—Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
More mainstream-pop culture class of nominees The 2025 honorees – KISS, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford – indicated a shift toward recognizing artists from more mainstream, pop culture fields rather than the cross-disciplinary lineups of prior years.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
Thrifting has become more mainstream, especially for people in her age range, Brammer said.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
Verb
This contrast shows that blistering performance is no longer limited to ultra-exclusive hypercars – high-end acceleration has now reached vehicles across multiple market segments, from luxury to mainstream EV sedans.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2025
He’s gone from being a pariah to mainstream.
—Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 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 8 Dec. 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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