mainstream
|main-stream|
🇺🇸
/ˈmeɪnˌstriːm/
🇬🇧
/ˈmeɪn.striːm/
dominant trend
Etymology
'mainstream' originates from the combination of 'main' and 'stream', where 'main' meant 'principal' and 'stream' referred to a current of water.
'mainstream' changed from the literal sense of a principal stream of water to its figurative use in the 20th century, referring to dominant trends.
Initially, it meant 'the principal stream of a river', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'dominant trend'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are regarded as normal or conventional; the dominant trend in opinion, fashion, or the arts.
His music is too avant-garde for the mainstream.
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Verb 1
to bring (something) into the mainstream.
The program aims to mainstream environmental education in schools.
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Adjective 1
belonging to or characteristic of the mainstream.
She prefers mainstream movies over indie films.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39