Simple Definition of linchpin

from our Learner's Dictionary

linchpin

noun

variants also lynchpin
ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn How to pronounce linchpin (audio)
plural linchpins
: a person or thing that holds something together : the most important part of a complex situation or system
This witness is the linchpin of the defense's case.

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“Linchpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/linchpin. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

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