lynchpin
noun
lynch·pin
less common spelling of linchpin
1
: a locking pin inserted crosswise (as through the end of an axle or shaft)
2
: one that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit
the linchpin in the defense's case
Examples of lynchpin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That a wetland serves as the lynchpin means that the tribe is taking on the restoration of an ecosystem that is especially threatened as the world’s climate trends hotter and more arid.
—
Joseph Lee, Vox, 14 Oct. 2024
The atomic clock’s lynchpin is the electron—to tell time, researchers use a laser to coax the electrons to jump back and forth between two specific energy levels.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Frank Malina opens the exhibition, and is a kind of lynchpin, too.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Nvidia, the lynchpin of AI, has soared nearly 136% just this year.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lynchpin 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Joseph Lee, Vox, 14 Oct. 2024
The atomic clock’s lynchpin is the electron—to tell time, researchers use a laser to coax the electrons to jump back and forth between two specific energy levels.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Frank Malina opens the exhibition, and is a kind of lynchpin, too.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Nvidia, the lynchpin of AI, has soared nearly 136% just this year.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lynchpin
Dictionary Entries Near lynchpin
Cite this Entry
“Lynchpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lynchpin. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share