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

• big
• big boy
• big cheese
• big gun
• big leaguer
• big shot
• big wheel
• big-timer
• bigfoot
• biggie
• bigwig
• fat cat
• heavy
• heavy hitter
• heavyweight
• high-muck-a-muck
• high-muckety-muck
• honcho
• kahuna
• kingfish
• major leaguer
• muckety-muck
• muck-a-muck
• mucky-muck
• nabob
• nawab
• nibs
• nob [chiefly British]
• pooh-bah
• poo-bah
• wheel

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

Pereira claimed the belt with a second-round knockout win, handing Prochazka his first loss since ex-Strikeforce light heavyweight kingpin Muhammed Lawal decked him in late 2015. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Beneath the criminal hierarchy of kingpins, middlemen, and trigger pullers is a vast network of supporters greasing the wheels. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Jan. 2025

Now the cartel kingpin’s lawyer wants to be a ranchera star June 20, 2024 Such artists have long faced sharp criticisms from authorities as well as threats from drug gangs. —Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025

In The Penguin, the Max supervillain drama, Colin Farrell plays Oz, a low-level criminal with kingpin dreams. —Jason Parham, WIRED, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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