ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Mainstay

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈmeɪn.steɪ/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Mainstay is a noun meaning A chief support.

Meaning

A chief support.

More Meanings

  1. Someone or something that can be depended on to make a regular contribution.
  2. (nautical) A stabilising rope from high on the mainmast to the base of the foremast.

Example Sentences

Oil is the mainstay of Nigeria's economy.
Agriculture is the mainstay of this country’s economy.
Conventional radiography has a major role in, and remains the mainstay of, initial evaluation and follow-up of rheumatologic disease.
As with most other railways, freight revenue is the mainstay of the balance sheet. In Canada, passenger revenue is only about one-tenth that of freight.

Word Forms

Synonyms for mainstay

Depending on context, synonyms include anchor, linchpin, lynchpin, pillar, backbone.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include lynchpin, pillar, linchpin, anchor, backbone, subsistence.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.