Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for mainstay. Search instead for mainsa.
Definitions

mainstay

[meyn-stey] / ˈmeɪnˌsteɪ /
NOUN
chief support
Synonyms
STRONGEST
backbone bulwark linchpin pillar
STRONG
anchor brace buttress crutch maintainer prop sinew staff standby stay strength supporter sustainer upholder
WEAK
good right arm right-hand person

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Chrysler 300C sedan of the 2000s became a mainstay in hip-hop videos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Meanwhile, the casualties of war include mainstay growth stock funds.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

"I see him being a big success for England and being a mainstay for years."

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Troubled singer-songwriters are a mainstay in the mythology of American roots music.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Owners no longer had the economic clout of being a mainstay of the economy.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.