mainstay

noun

main·​stay ˈmān-ˌstā 

plural mainstays

1

a

: a crucial or key part of something

Fish is the mainstay of their diet.

Tourism is a mainstay of the city's economy.

The mainstay of treatment for chronic hives of unknown origin is antihistamine medications.

—Mayo Clinic Health Letter

b

: someone or something that is a principal or reliable support or resource

Tourism is one of the city's economic mainstays.

Her immense pride in him and unquestioning support were among the few mainstays in his life.

—Robert V. Remini

2

: a ship's stay (see stay entry 1 sense 1) extending from the maintop forward usually to the foot of the foremast

Synonyms

• anchor
• buttress
• dependence
• dependance
• pillar
• reliance
• standby

Examples of mainstay in a Sentence

Fish is a mainstay of their diet.

My mother has always been the mainstay of our family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Buy Now See Inside a New 'Dune' Book Featuring Poetry by Star Josh Brolin (Exclusive) 06 of 07 'The Shop: Where Culture Shapes Up' by Ernest Wilkins The Shop, created by Paul Rivera and hosted by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, is a mainstay for thought-provoking conversations. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Over the past few years, the topics of artificial intelligence and machine learning have become immensely popular, establishing themselves as mainstays of discussion in most households and workplaces. —Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

By Annie Blackman 15 Best Cream Blushes for a Natural-Looking Flush These flexible formulas are mainstays in our makeup bags. —Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 5 Dec. 2024

The song became a mainstay of Trump’s campaign rallies. —Tess Owen, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

mainstay

noun

main·​stay -ˌstā 

1

: a large strong rope running from the maintop of a ship usually to the foot of the foremast

2

: a chief support

the mainstay of the family