Dictionary

kingpin en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkɪŋ.pɪn/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From king + pin.

Meanings

1. The axis around which steered wheels pivot; a bolt that holds the axis in place.
   • The employees brought back the apparently disappointing news that almost all components showed signs of wear. The sole exceptions were the kingpins, which remained virtually unworn. To the employees’ surprise, [Henry] Ford, instead of expressing pride in his well-made kingpins, declared that the kingpins were overbuilt, and that in the future they should be made more cheaply. 2000, Jared Diamond, Why Is Sex Fun?, Phoenix, →ISBN, page 152:
2. The pivot or connector between a tractor and trailer in the fifth-wheel coupling of semi-trailer truck.
3. (figuratively, informal) The most important person in a usually evil undertaking or organization, often a druglord.
   • The rare salarian females are cloistered on their worlds out of tradition and respect. Powerful female Dalatrasses are dynasts and political kingpins. They determine the political course of their respective regions through shrewd negotiation. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Salarians: Culture Codex entry:
   • As anyone who has ever paid remote attention to global affairs might have predicted, violence has broken out across several Mexican states in the aftermath of the killing – which is generally what happens when you take out a cartel kingpin. 2026 February 23, Belén Fernández, “El Mencho’s killing won’t solve Mexico’s cartel problem – or anything else”, in Al Jazeera English:
4. (qualifier:ten-pin bowling) The pin at the centre of the triangle of bowling pins (originally the tallest pin in kayles). Sometimes also the headpin at the apex.
5. The bolt holding together the truck of a roller skate or skateboard.

Forms

Coordinates

queenpin

Deriveds

kingpin to rear axle

Descendants

kingpin

Relateds

linchpin

Synonyms

big enchilada · high muckety-muck · top boy · head honcho · rooster · somebody · boss · big kahuna · grand poobah · heavy hitter · wheel · kingbolt · king of the castle · big cheese · very important person · bigwig · big gun · top gun · mayor · mugwump · big shot · top boy · top banana · baron · VIP · numero uno · big wheel · macher · muckety muck · big name · big enchilada · high muckamuck · big man · big cheese · panjandrum · king of the hill · king of all one surveys · heavyweight · poobah · kingpin · big noise · top dog · top cat · muckamuck

Translations (31)

pt manda-chuva (most important person) · ru центра́льная фигу́ра (most important person) · fi napamies (most important person) · de Bonze (most important person) · es jefazo (most important person) · hu góré (most important person) · sv spindelbult (auto part) · hu fejes (most important person) · de Nummer eins (most important person) · bg ос (auto part) · ru вал (auto part) · es mandamás (most important person) · de Königsbolzen (auto part) · ru ва́жное лицо́ (most important person) · de Dreh- und Angelpunkt (most important person) · fi olkatappi (auto part) · hu nagykutya (most important person) · da kongetap (auto part) · pl szycha (most important person) · sh osovina (auto part) · de wichtigster Mann (most important person) · sv stöttepelare (most important person) · de Hauptperson (most important person) · ru ось (auto part) · pl gruba ryba (most important person) · de Großkopferter (most important person) · ru шкво́рень (auto part) · de Königszapfen (auto part) · pl przednia oś zwrotnicy (auto part) · id gembong (most important person) · de entscheidende Figur (most important person)