lynchpin
noun
lynch·pin
less common spelling of linchpin
1
: a locking pin inserted crosswise (as through the end of an axle or shaft)
2
: one that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit
the linchpin in the defense's case
Examples of lynchpin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Almost no European ally believes the president’s assertion, the lynchpin of his justification for starting the war, that Iranian nuclear ambitions posed an imminent threat to either Israel or the West.
—
Max Hastings, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
The neuromodulator brand has become a noun, a verb, and a cultural lynchpin.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026
Penn Station is the lynchpin of our region’s transportation systems.
—Robert Yaro, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Kuminga was long believed to be the lynchpin of any Warriors play for Antetokounmpo.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lynchpin
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Max Hastings, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
The neuromodulator brand has become a noun, a verb, and a cultural lynchpin.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026
Penn Station is the lynchpin of our region’s transportation systems.
—Robert Yaro, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Kuminga was long believed to be the lynchpin of any Warriors play for Antetokounmpo.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lynchpin
Cite this Entry
“Lynchpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lynchpin. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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