<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-23</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000720002</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAINSOURCE FINANCIAL GROUP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>msfg</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256237</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARRON WILLIAM G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>726 HARVARD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OWENSBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>42301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1358</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>30.99</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>293581</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>Trust A</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>184</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>30.99</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>293581</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>FBO Children</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>39</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>30.99</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>293581</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>Self/IRA</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>38</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>30.99</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>293581</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>Spouse/IRA</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">These totals include some shares acquired through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and shares acquired through a 5% stock dividend issued by the company on January 17, 2003.  Summary of Ownership:  Self 13,072; Self/IRA 15,976; Spouse/IRA 17,976; FBO Children 18,486; Trust A 28,089; Family Trust 121,611; Partnership 72,244; Barron Enterprises 6,127.  Total Shares 293,581</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>William G. Barron</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

