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.
Lori Harvey, the stepdaughter of comedy kingpin Steve Harvey, is ratcheting up her sexpot status with her next gig as a Playboy cover model. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025 De Niro stars in a double role as both mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, real-life kingpins of New York’s Genovese crime family. Sophia Scorziello, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025 In a Hollywood Reporter cover story on Saturday, Gascón shared that in the original script she was given, Emilia Pérez’s cartel kingpin protagonist initially transitioned primarily as a disguise to evade the authorities, only to later grow into her newfound identity. Abby Monteil, Them, 13 Jan. 2025 Oil kingpin Monty Miller (Jon Hamm), frustrated by the negotiations, has a heart attack. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near kingpin

Cite this Entry

“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kingpin. Accessed 8 Feb. 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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