linchpin

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablefigurative

   A person, element, or thing that is essential for holding a plan, team, or system together.

   Grammar: Countable: the linchpin of the defense; usually singular in this use.

   Patterns

   • the linchpin of something
   • a linchpin in the system
   • remain the linchpin

   Reliable childcare is the linchpin of the whole schedule.

   She was the linchpin of the volunteer team for a decade.

2. 2nouncountabletechnicalrare

   A metal pin passed through a wheel axle to keep the wheel from coming off.

   Grammar: Literal mechanical sense; less common than the figurative use.

   Patterns

   • secure the wheel with a linchpin

   The cartwright fitted a new linchpin before the journey.

Word forms

Common combinations

linchpin of the team

The goalkeeper is the linchpin of the team.

linchpin of the economy

Small farms remain a linchpin of the local economy.

remove the linchpin

Cutting the bus route removed the linchpin of the evening service.

Synonyms and how they differ

cornerstone

A cornerstone is a basic foundation principle; a linchpin is the crucial connector that keeps things working now.

keystone

A keystone locks an arch in place; linchpin is more about holding a whole working system together.

backbone

Backbone suggests supporting strength throughout; linchpin suggests one key element whose failure collapses the rest.

lynchpin

A spelling variant, more common in British English, with the same meaning.

Opposites

Commonly confused: linchpin or lynchpin? linchpin or kingpin?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “linchpin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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