linchpin
/ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/
"linchpin" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“linchpin” is an uncommon English word, ranked #64,498 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #64,498
- frequency rank, English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | linchpin |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Frequency rank | #64,498 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “linchpin” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for linchpin is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #64,498 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
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
- 1A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.
- 2A central cohesive source of stability and security; a person or thing that is critical to a system or organisation.
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
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
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Using “linchpin”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is L-I-N-C-H-P-I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈlɪnt͡ʃˌpɪn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.