# mainstream

/ˈmeɪnˌstɹim/ (US) · /mˈeɪnstɹiːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mainstream
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the majority or norm

noun · CEFR B2

the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are shared by most people and regarded as normal or conventional.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. popular and common

adjective · CEFR B2

accepted by most people rather than a small or specialized group.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to make popular

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to make something popular or accepted by the general public.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. inclusive education

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

to teach students with special needs in the same classrooms as other students.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- His music finally moved from the underground into the mainstream.
- While her early work was experimental, her latest novel has found a home in the literary mainstream.
- The challenge for any counter-culture movement is to influence the mainstream without losing the radical edge that defined its initial opposition to the status quo.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.