kingpin
Americannoun
-
Bowling.
-
Informal. the person of chief importance in a corporation, movement, undertaking, etc.
-
Informal. the chief element of any system, plan, or the like.
-
a kingbolt.
-
either of the pins that are a part of the mechanism for turning the front wheels in some automotive steering systems.
noun
-
the most important person in an organization
-
the crucial or most important feature of a theory, argument, etc
-
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
-
tenpin bowling the front pin in the triangular arrangement of the ten pins
-
(in ninepins) the central pin in the diamond pattern of the nine pins
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of kingpin
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.
Vocabulary lists containing kingpin
They Both Die at the End
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"A&P" by John Updike
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
American Street
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It was not long before Arsenal's defensive kingpin was hitting back at Haaland again.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
India's Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the "kingpin" alleged to be behind the leak, naming him as a chemistry lecturer involved in the examination process for the NTA.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
After decades as the second-biggest U.S. burger chain by sales behind McDonald’s, it had just been surpassed by Wendy’s as well as chicken sandwich kingpin Chick-fil-A, according to market-research firm Technomic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026
He has been Showtime’s forgotten kingpin, its lost leader, its missing warrior, a stylishly distant legend who had been overshadowed by the seven Lakers whose statues stand watch over the plaza outside Crypto.com Arena.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 22, 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
As the kingpins of artificial intelligence scramble to secure electricity for their data centers, CEO Joe Dominguez has the goods.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2025
According to the Home Office, the new £100m will boost border security and strengthen investigations targeting smuggling kingpins who have operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2025
It sounded a lot like López Obrador’s “Hugs not bullets” strategy — attacking the root causes of crime instead of trying to take down cartel kingpins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2024
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
