linchpin
/ˈlɪntʃpɪn/
noun
- A person or thing that is essential to the success or functioning of something.
- The team captain was the linchpin of the defense, holding everyone together.
- Good communication is the linchpin of a healthy relationship.
- The new software became the linchpin of the company's digital transformation.
- A pin passed through the end of an axle to keep a wheel in place.
- The farmer replaced the linchpin on the wagon wheel before the harvest.
- He checked each linchpin on the cart to ensure a safe journey.
- Without the linchpin, the wheel would slide right off the axle.
Synonyms