mainstream

American  

[meyn-streem] / ˈmeɪnˌstrim /

noun

1. the principal or dominant course, tendency, or trend.

   the mainstream of American culture.

2. a river having tributaries.

3. regular school classes or regular schools.

   keeping autistic students in the mainstream.

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adjective

1. belonging to or characteristic of a principal, dominant, or widely accepted group, movement, style, etc..

   mainstream Republicans;

   a mainstream artist;

   mainstream media.

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of jazz falling historically between Dixieland and modern jazz; specifically, swing music.

verb (used with object)

1. to send into the mainstream; cause to join the main force, group, etc..

   to mainstream young people into the labor force.

2. to place (students with disabilities) in regular school classes.

verb (used without object)

1. to join or be placed in the mainstream.

mainstream British  

/ ˈmeɪnˌstriːm /

noun

1. 1. the main current (of a river, cultural trend, etc)

      in the mainstream of modern literature

   2. ( as modifier )

      mainstream politics

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adjective

1. of or relating to the style of jazz that lies between the traditional and the modern

mainstream Cultural  

1. The prevailing current or direction of a movement or influence: “The candidate's speech represented the mainstream thinking on economic policy.”

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Etymology

Origin of mainstream

First recorded in 1660–70; main ¹ + stream

Example Sentences

Her daughter attends a mainstream school with an inclusion hub, and Ailith believes flexibility is key to meeting Thalia's needs.

From BBC

For France's mainstream left, it is all deeply disconcerting.

From BBC

The surprise success goes immediately to Toño’s head, and Vargas Llosa is very funny about the backlash that ensues when a fringe scholar is nudged into the mainstream.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cryptocurrency companies and fintech startups dream of breaking into the mainstream financial system.

From The Wall Street Journal

He seethed with resentment at their mainstream success and regularly took jabs at his former bandmates in the press.

From Los Angeles Times