mainstream

1 of 3

noun

main·​stream ˈmān-ˌstrēm How to pronounce mainstream (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce mainstream (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Toss Bank serves over 12 million of customers, with monthly active users reaching 8.8 million, including a disproportionately high share of individuals with low-to-mid credit scores—groups historically neglected by mainstream banks. Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 Netflix has been pushing its own games business lately, focusing on games based on mainstream IP, party games, narrative games and kids games. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of mainstream was in 1599

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mainstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainstream. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

mainstream

noun
main·​stream
-ˌstrēm
: the principal current or direction of activity or influence

Medical Definition

mainstream

adjective
main·​stream ˌmān-ˌstrēm How to pronounce mainstream (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on mainstream

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