hegemony

[hi-jem-uh-nee, hej-uh-moh-nee]

noun

plural

hegemonies 

1. leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.

2. leadership; predominance.

3. (especially among smaller nations) aggression or expansionism by large nations in an effort to achieve world domination.

hegemony

/ hɪˈɡɛmənɪ, ˌhɛɡəˈmɒnɪk /

noun

1. ascendancy or domination of one power or state within a league, confederation, etc, or of one social class over others

Other Word Forms

• hegemonic adjective
• hegemonical adjective
• antihegemony noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hegemony¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Greek hēgemonía “leadership, supremacy,” equivalent to hēgemon- (stem of hēgemṓn ) “leader” + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of hegemony¹

C16: from Greek hēgemonia authority, from hēgemōn leader, from hēgeisthai to lead

Example Sentences

Today, our country is short on love and filled with selfishness brought about by the hegemony of the very rich.

From Salon

Permanent political hegemony and the final extinction of the troglodyte right might take a while, but were sure to follow.

From Salon

Under Soviet communism and under Putin, diplomacy is a zero-sum game whose only goal is to restore Russian hegemony over Eastern Europe.

From Los Angeles Times

Because it cannot achieve what the U.S. has accomplished through a mix of hard and soft power since the fall of the Soviet Union – that is, global hegemony – it has turned to physical force.

From Salon

And then there’s the issue of influence, if not hegemony.

From Salon