kingpin

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the most important person in a group or undertaking
  2. noun bolt that provides a steering joint in a motor vehicle
  3. noun the front bowling pin in the triangular arrangement of ten pins

Etymology

From king + pin.

In classic literature

Synonyms

top banana, bigwig

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