Jump To:

• main street
  main street

  noun

  the principal thoroughfare, especially through the business district, in a small town.
• Main Street
  Main Street

  noun

  a novel (1920) by Sinclair Lewis.

main street

¹ American  

noun

• main streets
  plural

1. the principal thoroughfare, especially through the business district, in a small town.

2. (initial capital letters) the outlook, environment, or life of a small town.

---

Main Street ² American  

noun

1. a novel (1920) by Sinclair Lewis.

---

Main Street British  

noun

1. the most prominent street of a town, usually where the principal shops and businesses are situated

2. ordinary people in general

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• main streets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of main street

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

main street Main Street

"International politics is very difficult," Comerford told AFP outside his pub on Doonbeg's main street.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

The main street of Queenborough is clogged with parked cars.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

Its main street is lined with brick buildings, some more than 100 years old.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

At their home, a large one-story villa off a dirt road leading to the town’s main street, Scott introduces me to a lifestyle designed to promote wellness.

From Slate ● Mar. 30, 2026

With fewer travelers passing through, the town quieted down a bit, though the parsonage fronted on the main street, which was still crowded and busy.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

One or two rate increases will hardly affect Main Street, or Wall Street for that matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

According to our analysis, of $31 trillion in total private business equity in the U.S., nearly half is in tactile, Main Street industries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

A 48-year-old man died in Main Street in Linlithgow.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

When they’re let loose, they enter Canyon View Ranch with the abandon of children running down Main Street, U.S.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Roberto picked me up after school, and we drove directly to Main Street School to clean it.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez