mainstream
MAYN-streem
/ˈmeɪnstriːm/
The ideas, attitudes, or activities that are shared by most people and regarded as normal or conventional.
Can be descriptive or slightly derogatory if used by someone who values 'indie' or 'alternative' culture.
The story behind the word. A literal metaphor from the 19th century. Just as the 'main stream' of a river is where the most water flows, the 'mainstream' of culture is where the most people are found.
Word relationships
- conventional: Conventional refers to following tradition; mainstream refers to what is currently popular with the majority.
- popular: Popular means liked by many; mainstream means it is the standard or default.
- alternative: Alternative refers to things outside the mainstream, often by choice.
- fringe: Fringe refers to the extreme edges of a group or movement.
Commonly confused with
- trend: A trend is a temporary movement; the mainstream is the steady, central flow of culture.
Collocations
- mainstream culture
- mainstream politics
- go mainstream
Idioms & expressions
- middle of the road
Example sentences
- "Mainstream media often ignores stories that don't appeal to a wide audience." Media and culture.
- "The school aims to mainstream students with special needs into regular classrooms." Education policy.
Memory hook
Think of a big river—the mainstream is where most of the water (and people) are going. Mainstream = Majority Stream.
When not to use
Do not use for niche or specialized interests.
Fun facts
- The term was first used in a social sense by writers like Carlyle to describe the 'main current' of thought.
Related words
Explore more words
offbeat, unconventional, norm, norms, avant-garde, eccentric
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.