agon

American  

[ag-ohn, -on, ah-gohn] / ˈæg oʊn, -ɒn, ɑˈgoʊn /

noun

plural

agones

1. (in ancient Greece) a contest in which prizes were awarded in any of a number of events, as athletics, drama, music, poetry, and painting.

2. (italics) (in ancient Greek drama) a formalized debate or argumentation, especially in comedy: usually following the proagon and preceding the parabasis.

3. Literature. conflict, especially between the protagonist and the antagonist.

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agon British  

/ ˈæɡəʊn, -ɡɒn /

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) a festival at which competitors contended for prizes. Among the best known were the Olympic, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian Games

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Etymology

Origin of agon

First recorded in 1650–60, agon is from the Greek word agṓn struggle, contest

Explanation

In ancient Greek theater, an agon was the moment of high drama when characters clashed in intense debates or struggles, bringing the story's conflict to life. An agon in ancient Greece wasn’t just a competition; it was the heart of the drama, where characters engaged in fierce debates or contests that could change the course of the story. The word originally referred to any kind of struggle, from athletic competitions to verbal sparring in plays. Today, the idea of an agon can be seen in any situation where conflict and competition push people to their limits.

Example Sentences

Since Assad’s fall, the new authorities have reported numerous major seizures of agon across the country.

From Barron's • Oct. 20, 2025

Each competitor in the agon is expected to stake his or her claims on truth; Nietzsche advanced his own opinions with utmost vehemence.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 7, 2019

The agon of the central character, self-besieged or plagued by circumstance, runs through the history of the director’s films, as does the suspicion that man’s brutality to man may have a penitential purpose.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 22, 2016

Two weeks agon against North Carolina, Virginia’s big men – all three of them – got into early foul trouble and continued to be plagued by foul calls the rest of the afternoon.

From Washington Post • Feb. 25, 2012

He sang of Jonquil and Florian, of Prince Aemon the Dr agon knight and his love for his brother's queen, of Nymeria's ten thousand ships.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin