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
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
Robert V. Remini2
: a ship's stay (see stay entry 1 sense 1) extending from the maintop forward usually to the foot of the foremast
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
But there are a number of higher-profile acts on the circuit that have become mainstays at outdoor music series, special events and summer festivals, or through their own headlining shows.
—Matt Sebastian, Denver Post, 29 July 2025
Kelly, 54, once a mainstay on cable news, has since launched her own podcast and YouTube show, following a tumultuous exit from the traditional format.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 29 July 2025
While the aerodynamic and aggressive lines of the early Pershing models remain a mainstay (the Generation X series features wide and muscular air intakes borrowed from racing cars), Pershing has also trended larger over the years.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 23 July 2025
Whether Baty and/or Alvarez become lineup mainstays down the stretch remains to be seen.
—Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
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Matt Sebastian, Denver Post, 29 July 2025
Kelly, 54, once a mainstay on cable news, has since launched her own podcast and YouTube show, following a tumultuous exit from the traditional format.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 29 July 2025
While the aerodynamic and aggressive lines of the early Pershing models remain a mainstay (the Generation X series features wide and muscular air intakes borrowed from racing cars), Pershing has also trended larger over the years.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 23 July 2025
Whether Baty and/or Alvarez become lineup mainstays down the stretch remains to be seen.
—Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
Cite this Entry
“Mainstay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainstay. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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