kingpin

American  

[king-pin] / ˈkɪŋˌpɪn /

noun

• kingpins
  plural

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 British  

/ 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

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• kingpins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of kingpin

First recorded in 1795–1805; king + pin

Explanation

A kingpin, also called a "center pin" or a "five pin," is the pin at the very center in bowling. From the bowling pin definition of kingpin, we get its other common meaning: someone who is important. If you are the kingpin in your office, you are probably the boss. The kingpin is the bigwig or the very most important, authoritative, or essential person in a group. The kingpins of the music business are often the owners of record labels rather than the actual musicians, and the kingpin of your bowling team is the person who bowls a strike every single time. In machines, an important vertical bolt can also be called a kingpin. In other words, there is a good reason that king is the most important part of kingpin.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kingpin kingpins

The inquiry, known as the Madlanga Commission, began last September and has heard accusations that Sibiya received a gift of 20 impalas from an alleged criminal kingpin in exchange for a police contract.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Saudi Arabia, an energy kingpin and important U.S. military ally, has few safe routes remaining to export its oil.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

While he was no kingpin, one source said, Jando oozes charisma.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

It was not long before Arsenal's defensive kingpin was hitting back at Haaland again.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

Well, when he got through figgerin’ he showed it to some other fellers and there it was, plain as anything—the earth wasn’t the big kingpin at all.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

Sheinbaum said that Mexico has increased cooperation with the U.S., capturing or killing top kingpins with assistance from U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies, but she has rejected direct U.S. involvement in antidrug raids.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

Following an unexpected meeting of minds between presidents Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro, three Colombian drug kingpins find themselves the target of a joint US-Colombia manhunt.

From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026

He could sanction Mexican officials suspected of complicity with kingpins.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2025

Federal agencies typically tasked with investigating drug kingpins, gunrunners and cybercriminals were conducting traffic stops and helping with other routine policing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2025

Like kingpins, one steel tier lammed into another, then they all crashed to the floor with a sound as of the roof falling.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Related Words

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