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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
For the first time in modern history, such a vast deportation effort is no longer an outlying opinion but a mainstream stance in American politics. Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 An unexpected dynamic months in the making appears to have reared its head during the final stretch of the presidential race: former President Donald Trump has achieved, against all odds and in the face of relentlessly negative media coverage, genuine mainstream popularity. Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Crypto continues to evolve and attract mainstream adoption, but investors and advocates alike need to actively monitor trends moving forward. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 During the Tokyo Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter spoke to Z and Zhao about The Unseen Sister, the challenges of making a mainstream commercial film with arthouse credentials and the universal themes of the feature. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
Payments solutions, meanwhile, serve as Web3’s bridge to mainstream financial systems. Tomer Niv, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 This could range from industry-specific magazines to mainstream business outlets to verticals, columns and contributor posts. Alexander Storozhuk, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near mainstream

Cite this Entry

“Mainstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainstream. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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