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

• 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

The products were based on licensing rights tied to the late Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025

The role of chilling drug kingpin Marlo Stanfield was Jamie Hector's breakthrough. —Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 29 July 2025

The album is Bieber’s first since parting ways with manager Scooter Braun, the record-business kingpin who recently seemed to suffer a catastrophic collapse in support from the celebrity class. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 26 July 2025

Richard is cast as a cold-blooded fixer who uses charm, manipulation and violence to rise through the ranks from enforcer to kingpin. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 23 July 2025

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