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

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 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

The U.S. case against a Mexican governor is entwined with the mysterious kidnapping of Sinaloa cartel kingpin Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

Baghdad had already said it was cutting output because of the crisis, with Kuwait and kingpin Saudi Arabia following suit.

From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026

A sports kingpin, White is also part of a circle of Trump whisperers and influencers, such as podcasters Theo Von and Joe Rogan, who is also a UFC commentator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 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

Xu is one of a half-dozen alleged kingpins running cybercrime networks, based in Cambodia, who have been sanctioned by the U.S. or are wanted by investigative agencies in other countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 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

Related Words

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