kingpin
KING-pin
/ˈkɪŋpɪn/
A person who controls a large criminal organization; the most important person in an undertaking.
Implies that the person is the central, indispensable figure whose removal would cause the whole organization to collapse.
The story behind the word. The term comes from the game of bowling (or ninepins). The kingpin is the central pin; if you hit it correctly, it knocks down all the other pins. In the 19th century, it began to be used metaphorically for the most important person in any group.
Word relationships
- boss: A more general term; kingpin implies a more central, structural importance.
- mastermind: Focuses on the person who plans the crimes rather than the person who rules the organization.
- underling: A person of lower status or rank.
- pawn: A person used by others for their own purposes.
Commonly confused with
- don: A 'don' is a specific title for a Mafia leader; 'kingpin' is a more general term.
Collocations
- drug kingpin
- underworld kingpin
- crime kingpin
- arrest the kingpin
Example sentences
- "After a two-year investigation, the police finally arrested the kingpin of the multi-state drug ring." A news report on a major arrest.
- "He was the kingpin of the local political machine, and nothing happened in the city without his approval." Describing a person's influence.
Memory hook
The 'king' of the 'pins'—if he falls, everyone else falls too. The kingpin is the central pin of the organization.
When not to use
Do not use for a low-level manager or a mid-tier boss; it is reserved for the top leader.
Fun facts
- In some variations of bowling, the kingpin is actually the tallest pin.
- Marvel Comics features a famous villain named 'Kingpin' (Wilson Fisk).
Related words
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