mainstay

noun

main·​stay ˈmān-ˌstā 

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

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

2

: a ship's stay (see stay entry 1 sense 1) extending from the maintop forward usually to the foot of the foremast

Synonyms of mainstay

• anchor
• backbone
• pillar
• standby

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

Its menu is built around the Jamaican patty, a mainstay of Jamaican cuisine. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

Kiesau is working with holdover quarterbacks coach Bobby Fresques, a mainstay with his alma mater as coach since 2019. —Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Michael stands be a mainstay at the box office in the weeks ahead, and now all eyes are turning toward if the team will pursue a sequel. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026

The districts currently held by Democratic mainstays Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Lois Frankel will both now favor Republican candidates instead. —Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for mainstay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids 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