kingpin

noun

king·​pin ˈkiŋ-ˌpin 

1

: the chief person in a group or undertaking

2

: any of several bowling pins: such as

a

: headpin

b

: the pin that stands in the middle of a triangular arrangement of bowling pins

3

a

: kingbolt

b

: a pin connecting the two parts of a knuckle joint (as in an automobile steering linkage)

Synonyms of kingpin

• heavyweight
• heavy
• big
• magnate
• tycoon

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

Rex plays Landry Taylor, the ruthless kingpin who controls the film’s bodybuilding world. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026

Directed by Potsy Ponciroli, the film features Ritchson as John Miller, a 1970s Detroit factory worker framed for drugs by a crime kingpin after falling for his ex-girlfriend. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

The track, which calls to mind the Killers and other kingpins of synth-rock, is also a preview of New Translations’ forthcoming album, the follow-up to their 2025 debut Vacation. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

The children of cartel kingpins enrolled in the city’s top prep schools. — Kevin Sieff, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for kingpin

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin

Kids Definition

kingpin

noun

king·​pin ˈkiŋ-ˌpin 

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