kingpin

[ king-pin ]

noun

1. Bowling.
   1. headpin.
   2. the pin at the center; the number five pin.
2. Informal. the person of chief importance in a corporation, movement, undertaking, etc.
3. Informal. the chief element of any system, plan, or the like.
4. a kingbolt.
5. either of the pins that are a part of the mechanism for turning the front wheels in some automotive steering systems.

kingpin

/ ˈkɪŋˌpɪn /

noun

1. the most important person in an organization
2. the crucial or most important feature of a theory, argument, etc
3. Also called (Brit)swivel pin a pivot pin that provides a steering joint in a motor vehicle by securing the stub axle to the axle beam
4. tenpin bowling the front pin in the triangular arrangement of the ten pins
5. (in ninepins) the central pin in the diamond pattern of the nine pins

Word History and Origins

Origin of kingpin¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; king + pin

Example Sentences

Imagine search as a jungle gym, you automatically imagine Google as the kingpin player on this ground.

From Search Engine Watch

Born in Britain but adept at pulling off regional American accents, Elba first caught the attention of TV audiences as the charismatic drug kingpin Russell “Stringer” Bell in The Wire.

From Time

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said as much in January 2019 when he branded Fortnite a bigger threat to the streaming kingpin than Disney, HBO et al.

From Digiday

“Hey, gaylords, watch this,” said Chris, producing a broken skateboard kingpin from his pocket.

From Ozy

When a local drug kingpin got too close to his players, Thompson warned him to stay away.

From FiveThirtyEight

When it came to casting Escobar, Di Stefano had to find a strong actor who could embody the brutality of the late kingpin.

From The Daily Beast

In the meantime, the U.S. named El Chino a drug kingpin and moved to seize the very wealth he flaunted in his online photos.

From The Daily Beast

Before Escobar and his posse would surrender, the drug kingpin had a few stipulations.

From The Daily Beast

The young, professional players indulged the pudgy kingpin as he kicked his ball around in the dirt.

From The Daily Beast

According to records from the Federal Election Commission, game-show kingpin Griffin, creator of Jeopardy!

From The Daily Beast

Wait now, Bertrand Meade, who seemed to be the kingpin of the whole movement—yes, Meade owned that tiny island.

From Project Gutenberg

The rookies, too, look up to you as a kingpin pitcher and batter, and theyll be just clay in your hands.

From Project Gutenberg

He said he was the kingpin of the tooth-pullers, and I believe he was.

From Project Gutenberg

You are to be a kingpin witness in my case against two pickpockets.

From Project Gutenberg

But there's another day, and the kingpin and I may yet lock horns.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boss
• company
• corporation
• entrepreneur
• executive
• firm
• management
• manager
• manufacturer
• organization
• owner