mainstay
6 synonyms for mainstay, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The main thing that something relies on for support.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
lynchpin
linchpin
Etymology
From Middle English main stai, equivalent to main + stay (“rope”).
Full origin of mainstay →