mainstream

UK: /ˈmeɪnstriːm/ US: /ˈmeɪnˌstrim/ ,(mān′strēm′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

main•stream /ˈmeɪnˌstrim/   n. 

[countable]
1. the principal or most usual course of action or way of thinking:
   That political party must return to the mainstream of American values.

adj. [before a noun]

2. of or relating to a principal or widely accepted group, style, etc.:
   The party platform appealed to mainstream America.

v. [~ + object]

3. to send into the mainstream, as by placing (special students) in regular school classes:
   to mainstream handicapped children.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

main•stream  (mān′strēm′), n. 

1. the principal or dominant course, tendency, or trend:
   the mainstream of American culture.
2. a river having tributaries.

adj. 

3. belonging to or characteristic of a principal, dominant, or widely accepted group, movement, style, etc.:
   mainstream Republicans; a mainstream artist.
4. Music and Dance of, pertaining to, or characteristic of jazz falling historically between Dixieland and modern jazz;
   specifically, swing music. Cf. traditional (def. 4).

v.t. 

5. to send into the mainstream;
   cause to join the main force, group, etc.:
   to mainstream young people into the labor force.
6. Education to place (handicapped students) in regular school classes.

v.i. 

7. to join or be placed in the mainstream.

• main¹ + stream 1660–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mainstream / ˈmeɪnˌstriːm/ noun

1. the main current (of a river, cultural trend, etc): in the mainstream of modern literature
2. (as modifier): mainstream politics

adjective

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

verb

1. to bring or come into the mainstream