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
Minimalism has been a mainstay in the wellness and financial spaces for the last decade for good reason.
—Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
The founders of these firms have long been mainstays on The Forbes 400.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Black is a smartphone mainstay.
—PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025
McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader and a GOP mainstay in the chamber for decades, also stepped down as the Senate GOP leader last year.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
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Essence, 12 Sep. 2025
The founders of these firms have long been mainstays on The Forbes 400.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Black is a smartphone mainstay.
—PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025
McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader and a GOP mainstay in the chamber for decades, also stepped down as the Senate GOP leader last year.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 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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