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
Cambodia’s garment and textile industry, long a mainstay of its economy, employs about 1 million people, according to the UN.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
This mainstay on the Texas Panhandle has been dishing up hot cakes since 1981.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
In both, Miguel is accompanied to a conference by Marta (Amaia Salamanca), his girlfriend of dazzling beauty and his only emotional mainstay.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
In the paper, scientists explained that these corals have been a mainstay on reefs worldwide for 250,000 to 500,000 years.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainstay
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Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
This mainstay on the Texas Panhandle has been dishing up hot cakes since 1981.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
In both, Miguel is accompanied to a conference by Marta (Amaia Salamanca), his girlfriend of dazzling beauty and his only emotional mainstay.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
In the paper, scientists explained that these corals have been a mainstay on reefs worldwide for 250,000 to 500,000 years.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 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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