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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• kingpins
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of kingpin

First recorded in 1795–1805; king + pin

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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

US actor RJ Mitte, best known for his role as the defiant son of drug kingpin Walter White in the drama series Breaking Bad, has died aged 34.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Now, with its Red Sea bypass route disrupted by attacks, the world’s oil kingpin is having to return to the waterway it was trying to avoid in the first place.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

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

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

The messages carry the return address of ADX Florence, the maximum-security federal prison in Colorado where the onetime kingpin is housed in strict isolation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Francis is wide awake and wearing his favorite-slash-only bathrobe, like he’s some kingpin whose business makes him stacks on stacks of money instead of a technician spending the little he makes on us.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers—to determine a winner in the titanic fight between AI kingpins Elon Musk and Sam Altman.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026

“Less than 300 days ago, these cartel kingpins were free and unafraid,” Gordon said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026

He could sanction Mexican officials suspected of complicity with kingpins.

From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2025

The US sanctions list is usually reserved for drug kingpins, terror operatives and dictators involved in widespread human rights abuses.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 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

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Related Words

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

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