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
Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026 Songs here that start off surprisingly bracing resolve into big, sleek choruses, the work of firm believers in the power of heroic, high-protein mainstream alt-rock as a salve against encroaching darkness. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 With the backing of payments giant Stripe, Tempo is attempting to become a central player in making stablecoins mainstream. —Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026 New-age has widened to a big-tent genre, evolving from heady subculture to mainstream schlock to avant-garde fascination, and now to chill, low-stakes record collector music. —Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026 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
The Egyptians had wonderful oases, the Babylonians had their Hanging Gardens, but the Persians took gardens mainstream. —Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026 Songs here that start off surprisingly bracing resolve into big, sleek choruses, the work of firm believers in the power of heroic, high-protein mainstream alt-rock as a salve against encroaching darkness. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Pricey devices such as the Apple Vision Pro, a headset that blends the digital and physical world so people can watch videos, play games, work and do other tasks, failed to become mainstream. —Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 With the backing of payments giant Stripe, Tempo is attempting to become a central player in making stablecoins mainstream. —Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
As her notoriety grew through the Hulu reality series, she was cast as the central figure on an upcoming season of The Bachelorette, positioning her as the latest crossover from unscripted TV notoriety to mainstream dating franchise fame. —Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026 New-age has widened to a big-tent genre, evolving from heady subculture to mainstream schlock to avant-garde fascination, and now to chill, low-stakes record collector music. —Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mainstream
Cite this Entry
“Mainstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/mainstream. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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
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