kingpin

noun

king·​pin ˈkiŋ-ˌpin How to pronounce kingpin (audio)
1
: the chief person in a group or undertaking
2
: any of several bowling pins: such as
a
b
: the pin that stands in the middle of a triangular arrangement of bowling pins
3
a
b
: a pin connecting the two parts of a knuckle joint (as in an automobile steering linkage)

Examples of kingpin in a Sentence

kingpins of the movie industry a police sting that nabbed several kingpins of the city's drug trade
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The book is about a Mexican bookseller who is forced to flee as an undocumented immigrant to the United States, along with her son, after her journalist husband exposes a local drug kingpin. Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025 For years, Mexican police, sometimes with U.S. assistance, have been destroying drug labs and taking out kingpins — to no apparent effect on cross-border smuggling. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025 In early April, the U.S. State Department revoked the band members’ visas for allegedly displaying a visual of a cartel kingpin during a recent show. Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025 In the headline bouts, Bellator middleweight champion and now 185-pound PFL kingpin, Johnny Eblen will defend his title against Spain’s Costello van Steenis. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for kingpin

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of kingpin was in 1773

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kingpin. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

kingpin

noun
king·​pin ˈkiŋ-ˌpin How to pronounce kingpin (audio)
1
: a pin that stands in the middle of a triangular arrangement of bowling pins
also : headpin
2
: the chief person in a group or undertaking
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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