1. the most important parts of something; chief supports or foundations
2. people who provide the primary support for an organization or activity
3. strong ropes or cables that support a ship’s mast
Usage: nautical

Examples

• Rice and beans are mainstays of many Latin American diets.
• The volunteers have been mainstays of the community center for decades.
• Tourism and agriculture remain the mainstays of the island’s economy.
• She was one of the mainstays of the school’s drama program.
• The sailors checked the mainstays before setting sail.
• Small businesses are the mainstays of this downtown district.
• These three teachers have been mainstays of our faculty for years.