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

Each of the three episodes focuses on a different personality, from vicious kingpin Klaas Bruinsma to Ecstasy-milling married couple Johan and Brenda Toet. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026

How did a small town Canadian boy allegedly become a narco kingpin? —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026

In season 1, gangster kingpin Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) frames him for a series of bombings, and the two go toe to toe, with Murdock torn between how to bring Fisk to justice. —David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026

McKenzie set up an interview with SBF at the height of his wealth and prestige and poked holes in the kingpin’s arguments in favor of crypto. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for kingpin

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

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