kingpin

noun

king·​pin ˈkiŋ-ˌpin How to pronounce kingpin (audio)
1
: the chief person in a group or undertaking
2
: any of several bowling pins: such as
a
b
: the pin that stands in the middle of a triangular arrangement of bowling pins
3
a
b
: a pin connecting the two parts of a knuckle joint (as in an automobile steering linkage)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ghost, the actress plays Tasha, the wife of nightclub owner and drug kingpin James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), who as a savvy and resourceful individual, is heavily involved in her husband’s drug empire. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024 By killing Victor, Oz rids himself of all meaningful connections to his past, fortifying his ascension to Gotham kingpin in solitude. Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024 Playing the murderous, thuggish drug kingpin required careful thought and training on what vocal register to use, how to move and carry the body in ways that noticeably differentiated him from Emilia’s character, Gascon said. David Bloom, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Yan won the vacant UFC bantamweight belt by trouncing former UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo in July 2020. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for kingpin 

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of kingpin was in 1773

Dictionary Entries Near kingpin

Cite this Entry

“Kingpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kingpin. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

kingpin

noun
king·​pin ˈkiŋ-ˌpin How to pronounce kingpin (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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