Mainstay Meaning in English
word
Definition
The most important support or foundation of something; the central or most reliable part of a group, system, or activity.
Usage & Nuances
'Mainstay' is often used in formal or semi-formal contexts to describe something essential that holds everything together. Common collocations: 'mainstay of the family,' 'mainstay of the economy.' It typically refers to things or people that provide the main support, not minor contributors.
Example Sentences
Rice is the mainstay of their diet.
basic
Education is a mainstay of the country's progress.
basic
She is the mainstay of her family.
basic
Tourism has become the economic mainstay of the region.
natural
My grandmother was the emotional mainstay of our family growing up.
natural
Agriculture remains a mainstay despite changes in the global market.
natural