kingmaker

noun

king·​mak·​er ˈkiŋ-ˌmā-kər 

: one having great influence over the choice of candidates for political office

Examples of kingmaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The senior House Democrat became a kingmaker for Biden by giving him momentum heading into Super Tuesday after Biden’s poor showing in the first three states. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Political analyst Volker Resing said AfD may be able to overcome the firewall after its strong showing in Saxony-Anhalt, with BSW potentially serving as the kingmaker. — Kirsten Grieshaber, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

Who will be the kingmakers in a title race that feels more open now that Manchester City have ended Chelsea’s run of six consecutive WSL titles? — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

When the majority is slim, any single lawmaker can become a kingmaker, determining whether a party’s agenda sinks or soars. — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kingmaker

• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker
• lawmaker
• matchmaker
• pacemaker
• partaker
• peacemaker