A plain bearing, also known as a bushing, is a mechanical element used to reduce friction between rotating shafts and stationary support members. Typically, a bushing relies on soft metal or plastic and an oil film to support the rotating shaft on the hardened shaft journal.

A plain bearing, or more commonly sliding bearing and slide bearing (in railroading sometimes called a solid bearing, journal bearing, or friction bearing), is the simplest type of bearing, comprising just a bearing surface and no rolling elements. Therefore, the journal (i.e., the part of the shaft in contact with the bearing) slides over the bearing surface. The simplest example of a plain bearing is a shaft rotating in a hole. A simple linear bearing can be a pair of flat surfaces designed to allow motion; e.g., a drawer and the slides it rests on or the ways on the bed of a lathe.