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hegemon

American  
[hej-uh-mon] / ˈhɛdʒ əˌmɒn /

noun

  1. a person, nation, etc., that has or exercises hegemony.


Etymology

Origin of hegemon

First recorded in 1900–05, hegemon is from the Greek word hēgemṓn leader, guide

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Pollen-Isherwood story provides a lesson about the danger of decadence for the reigning hegemon in the face of a rising challenger.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Frothy markets will bounce again, and we all will wait for the next episode of mad hegemon.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

And it became the western world's cultural, economic and military hegemon.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2025

The U.S. has been the undisputed economic hegemon in Latin America for most of the region’s post-independence history.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2025

This was Ts'u's first appearance as effective hegemon, but her official debut alone did not take place till 538.

From Ancient China Simplified by Parker, Edward Harper