linchpin

/ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/

//ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"linchpin" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“linchpin” is uncommon English (frequency #64,498 among 2,297 “L” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#64,498
frequency rank, English
2,297
“L” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.

Corpus desk

Index EN-linchpin · linchpin · English

linchpin · rank #64,498 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #64,498
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,297
  • PHOTO-FINISH Limburg

Nearest frequency peer: Limburg (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “linchpin”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “linchpin” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for linchpin
PropertyValue
Headwordlinchpin
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/
Letters8
Frequency rank#64,498
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “linchpin” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).linchpinfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “Limburg” (#64,497), “lemming” (#64,494), “longish” (#64,503). Among 2,297 “L” headwords, “linchpin” is #64,498. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

linchpin is uncommon English at frequency #64,498 among 2,297 “L” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

linchpin has no tracked misspelling variants, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English lynspin, compound of lins (“axletree”) and pin, from Old English lynis (“lynchpin”), from Proto-West Germanic *lunis, from Proto-Germanic *lunaz – compare German Lünse and Dutch luns – from Proto-Indo-European. Possible further cognates … The correct English form is linchpin, spelled L-I-N-C-H-P-I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.
  2. 2
    A central cohesive source of stability and security; a person or thing that is critical to a system or organisation.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how linchpin appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. In ij camellis ferri vocatis lynspins emptis pro carectis iiijᵈ.
  2. Every design that villany could suggest was had recourse to in the hopes of nobbling Wild Dayrell; but never being left for an hour by either his trainer or jockey, he escaped the intended “coopering,” even when the lynchpins of the wheels of his van had been tampered with.

Etymology

From Middle English lynspin, compound of lins (“axletree”) and pin, from Old English lynis (“lynchpin”), from Proto-West Germanic *lunis, from Proto-Germanic *lunaz – compare German Lünse and Dutch luns – from Proto-Indo-European. Possible further cognates are Welsh olwyn (“wheel”), Old Armenian ողն (ołn, “back; spine, backbone”) and Sanskrit आणि (āṇí, “lynchpin”). Figurative use attested from the mid-20th century.

This word in other languages

taco(Español)cheville(Français)Angelpunkt(Deutsch)chaveta(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "linchpin"?
"linchpin" is spelled L-I-N-C-H-P-I-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/.
What does "linchpin" mean?
As a noun, "linchpin" means: A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.
How do you pronounce "linchpin"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "linchpin" is /ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "linchpin"?
From Middle English lynspin, compound of lins (“axletree”) and pin, from Old English lynis (“lynchpin”), from Proto-West Germanic *lunis, from Proto-Germanic *lunaz – compare German Lünse and Dutch luns – from Proto-Indo-European. Possible further... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "linchpin", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Laughton#64,490Manasseh#64,520katakana#64,470McGinley#64,529

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list