Word
Definitions
01the majority or norm
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are shared by most people and regarded as normal or conventional.
n. the prevailing current of thought, influence, or activity within a society. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
“His views on the environment have finally moved into the mainstream.”
“While his early theories were dismissed as radical, they have since been absorbed into the scientific mainstream and are now taught in every university.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02popular and common
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. accepted by most people rather than a small or specialized group.
adj. representing the most widespread or common attitudes and values of a society.
“Mainstream media outlets are often criticized for ignoring smaller news stories.”
“The director transitioned from experimental short films to mainstream Hollywood blockbusters without losing his unique visual style.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to make popular
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to make something popular or accepted by the general public.
v. to bring a particular idea, practice, or group into the principal current of society or a specific field. Transitive — takes a direct object.
“The government is trying to mainstream renewable energy by offering tax breaks.”
“The organization works to mainstream disability rights into every level of urban planning and public policy.”
Antonyms
04inclusive education
C1 · Advanced Education American English · Technical
v. to teach students with special needs in the same classrooms as other students.
v. to integrate students with disabilities or special educational needs into regular school classes. Transitive — takes a direct object.
“The school decided to mainstream several students who previously attended a separate center.”
“Advocates argue that mainstreaming students with learning difficulties fosters a more empathetic and inclusive environment for the entire student body.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice: 'the student was mainstreamed'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mainstream” in context.
Verb
01. bring into the mainstream
“The documentary helped to bring environmental concerns into the mainstream of political debate.”
verb + prep + noun
02. enter the mainstream
“Alternative medicine has finally entered the mainstream as more doctors recommend holistic treatments.”
verb + noun
03. join the mainstream
“After years of operating in the underground scene, the band eventually joined the mainstream.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. cultural mainstream
“His avant-garde films were often at odds with the cultural mainstream of the 1950s.”
adj + noun
05. political mainstream
“The candidate's views are considered too radical to appeal to the political mainstream.”
adj + noun
Preposition
06. in the mainstream
“These ideas are now firmly established in the mainstream of sociological thought.”
prep + noun
07. outside the mainstream
“He preferred to live outside the mainstream, avoiding social media and modern technology.”
prep + noun
08. mainstream media
Real-World Examples
“For years, most mainstream multiplexes booked movies in standard two-week blocks.” “Since 2017, when the New York Times reported that the US military possessed video recordings of pilots’ encounters with UFOs, aliens have gone mainstream.” “You would find it very hard to find any mainstream media organisation that called him a liar.” “With no other mainstream options, the parody candidate Count Binface, was Farage’s nearest competitor, winning 9,455 votes, or one in four of the votes cast.” Etymology
From main + stream. Cognate with Icelandic meginstraumur (“a main current, mainstream”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/mainstream
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0