hegemony

American  

[hi-jem-uh-nee, hej-uh-moh-nee] / hɪˈdʒɛm ə ni, ˈhɛdʒ əˌmoʊ ni /

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.

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hegemony British  

/ hɪˈɡɛmənɪ, ˌhɛɡəˈmɒnɪk /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• antihegemony noun
• hegemonic adjective
• hegemonical adjective

Etymology

Origin of hegemony

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

Example Sentences

Among the young, "hegemony" has slipped into everyday speech, shorthand for India's long shadow over Bangladesh.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

It’s a potent reminder of Western European hegemony.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

“King of Kings” by Scott Anderson and “Chokepoints” by Edward Fishman are fascinating portraits of the fragility of American hegemony.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

She said she had enjoyed some of the newer spaces even more because they were "creating new ways to experience nightlife" outside what she called "the hegemony of the big Berlin clubs".

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

The first period of hegemony was that of Chavin, which from about 700 b.c. to the dawn of the Christian era controlled the central coast of Peru and the adjacent mountains.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann