mainsail
noun
main·sail
ˈmān-ˌsāl 
ˈmān(t)-səl
ˈmān(t)-səl
: the principal sail on the mainmast see sail illustration
Examples of mainsail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In one instance, while 15 miles out to sea, the boat's mast spar broke and sent the mainsail toppling down.
—
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2025
Even the most inspiring sea captains who command luxurious yachts across picturesque waters have to worry about employees who don’t hoist their share of the mainsail.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
The crew shut down the electronics and hauled in the mainsail.
—Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024
Thanks to the hydraulics system, the mainsail can be hoisted and lowered on a wireless remote control.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024
The electric motor, which usually lifts the mainsail into place, had malfunctioned.
—Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022
The vessel is also equipped with a boom-less rig and sizable mainsail that pulls in even more power from the wind.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2022
In addition, the cat is equipped with twin 225 hp engines and a 1,722-square-foot mainsail that harnesses additional power from the wind for greater efficiency and fewer emissions.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2021
On a two-sail boat like this one (called a sloop), the emphasis is on the mainsail (B), the sail nearer the stern (H), which is the rearmost or aft part of the boat.
—Caleb Paine, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2021
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Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2025
Even the most inspiring sea captains who command luxurious yachts across picturesque waters have to worry about employees who don’t hoist their share of the mainsail.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
The crew shut down the electronics and hauled in the mainsail.
—Tomas Weber, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024
Thanks to the hydraulics system, the mainsail can be hoisted and lowered on a wireless remote control.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024
The electric motor, which usually lifts the mainsail into place, had malfunctioned.
—Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022
The vessel is also equipped with a boom-less rig and sizable mainsail that pulls in even more power from the wind.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2022
In addition, the cat is equipped with twin 225 hp engines and a 1,722-square-foot mainsail that harnesses additional power from the wind for greater efficiency and fewer emissions.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2021
On a two-sail boat like this one (called a sloop), the emphasis is on the mainsail (B), the sail nearer the stern (H), which is the rearmost or aft part of the boat.
—Caleb Paine, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Mainsail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainsail. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mainsail
noun
main·sail
ˈmān-ˌsāl
ˈmān(t)-səl
ˈmān(t)-səl
: the principal sail on the mainmast
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