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linchpin
[linch-pin]
noun
a pin inserted through the end of an axletree to keep the wheel on.
something that holds the various elements of a complicated structure together.
The monarchy was the linchpin of the nation's traditions and society.
linchpin
/ ˈɪԳʃˌɪ /
noun
a pin placed transversely through an axle to keep a wheel in position
a person or thing regarded as an essential or coordinating element
the linchpin of the company
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of linchpin1
Example Sentences
"So it is, in a way, a linchpin for the Philippine presence."
The tariffs against Canada and Mexico upend a trade pact that dates back three decades and is the linchpin of many tightly integrated industries across North America.
He’s also a linchpin to what happened to compensate once-imprisoned Japanese Americans.
The mango, that beloved linchpin of cuisines and cultures around the world, typifies this trend.
Another linchpin of retirement, a Social Security check, may not be as hefty in the next decade if the program's funds aren't shored up by Congress.
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Related Words
When To Use
A linchpin is the person or thing that serves as the essential element in a complicated or delicate system or structure—the one that holds everything together.This sense of linchpin is based on its original, literal meaning: an actual pin used to attach a wheel to the axle of a carriage or wagon to keep the wheel from falling off. It’s a good metaphor: a linchpin is someone or something that keeps the wheels from falling off of an operation—they keep the whole thing working. It can also be spelled lynchpin.Example: Their point guard wasn’t their main scorer, but she was the linchpin to the team’s success, and they started to lose a lot of games after she was injured.
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