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

For 40 years the Old Firm hegemony has held.

Read more on BBC

The U.S. and Australia this week announced plans to invest $3 billion in critical minerals aimed at eroding China’s hegemony.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"In recent years, the United States has aggressively pursued cyber hegemony, repeatedly trampling on international cyberspace rules," the ministry said in its statement.

Read more on Barron's

Cycles of great-power rivalry, where leading states grasped ineffectively for hegemony, shaped the emergence of both dynastic empires and modern nations while testing statesmen.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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".

Read more on Barron's