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Definitions

mainspring

[mayn-spring] / ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ /












Example Sentences

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The Fountain’s tradition of extending a wide communal embrace, welcoming underrepresented voices and addressing urgent social concerns, is clearly going to be a mainspring of Caldwell’s leadership.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2025

The question of appropriation is the editorial mainspring of “The Dolphin Letters.”

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 9, 2019

This was the mainspring of the anti-liberal revolt in the region.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 24, 2019

The mechanisms of the league’s revenue — the television deals that are its mainspring, the creative marketing initiatives, the sponsorships — are driven by the owners, the entrepreneurial dealmakers such as Jones and Bob Kraft.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 14, 2017

“It’s how my father taught me. If I don’t wind it consistently, it won’t keep time as well. And if I overwind it, the mainspring might break.”

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros


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