mainstay

/ˈmeɪnsteɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪnsteɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmān-ˌstā/ (ame, mw)

mainstay — noun

1. A person or thing that forms the strongest, most reliable part of a group, activ

1.名詞B2
釋義

A person or thing that forms the strongest, most reliable part of a group, activity, or system — the element on which everything else depends for its continued existence or success.

例句

Rice has long been a mainstay of the Japanese diet, appearing in almost every meal.

mainstay of [economy/diet/team] — pattern for naming the essential part

After the head coach retired, Mei-Lin became the mainstay of the school's volleyball program.

同義詞
  • backbone

    Very close in meaning; emphasizes structural necessity that keeps something moving or functioning

  • pillar

    Highlights upright, visible strength; often used for prominent people rather than things

  • cornerstone

    Emphasizes foundational importance, as the first stone laid in a building determines the whole structure

  • foundation

    Broader in scope; refers to the base upon which something rests, not necessarily its most active part

反義詞
  • weak link

    The least reliable part that threatens the whole

  • accessory

    Something added on that is helpful but not essential

文法句型

be the mainstay of something

become a mainstay

serve as a mainstay

用法筆記

Typically used in the pattern 'the mainstay of [something]' to name the most essential support of an activity, economy, or group. It is a count noun but most often appears in the singular form.

常見錯誤

❌She is the mainstay support of the team.
✅She is the mainstay of the team.
💡mainstay already means "chief support," so adding the word support is redundant.
❌Corn are the mainstay of the local diet.
✅Corn is the mainstay of the local diet.
💡mainstay takes a singular verb even when the subject is a mass noun.