Linchpin

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/

Linchpin (noun)

  1. A person or thing that is essential for keeping something together or functioning well.

Examples

  • The manager is the linchpin of the team's success.
  • She is the linchpin of our team, holding everything together.

Common collocations: be a linchpin, serve as a linchpin, identify a linchpin