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
Benny Har-Even, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
To be sure, the AfD is unlikely to govern for now as all mainstream parties have ruled out working with it, though some analysts believe its strength could pave the way for an AfD win in 2029.
—Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025
Unfortunately, this nuance doesn’t matter to the actual white supremacists and antisemitic extremists whose own bigoted ideas have found mainstream expression thanks to Kanye.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025
Kathleen Gallagher, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
That was as close to mainstream Hollywood acceptance as Lynch would ever get, and he was burned by his next venture, a big-budget adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel Dune.
—Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstream
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
As such, expectations are high, especially as unlike Parasite, which was in Korean, Mickey 17 is in English-language sci-fi film with Robert Patterson in the lead role, which certainly hints at a movie aiming for mainstream appeal.
—Benny Har-Even, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
To be sure, the AfD is unlikely to govern for now as all mainstream parties have ruled out working with it, though some analysts believe its strength could pave the way for an AfD win in 2029.
—Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
ArcLight launched in 2002 at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood with a pioneering luxury experience that has since become more mainstream.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025
Unfortunately, this nuance doesn’t matter to the actual white supremacists and antisemitic extremists whose own bigoted ideas have found mainstream expression thanks to Kanye.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
This is new to mainstream Wisconsin venture capital.
—Kathleen Gallagher, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
That was as close to mainstream Hollywood acceptance as Lynch would ever get, and he was burned by his next venture, a big-budget adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel Dune.
—Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 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 27 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share