hegemon

noun

heg·​e·​mon ˈhe-jə-ˌmän How to pronounce hegemon (audio)
ˈhē-
: something (such as a political state) having dominant influence or authority over others : one possessing hegemony
These were the periods in which England and then America filled the role of hegemonRobert Heilbroner
The American self-image of a mighty power that is also a benign hegemon, the global custodian of democratic values and human rights, is deeply rooted.Allister Sparks

Examples of hegemon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Those with enough power to conquer others—continental hegemons such as China and Russia—believe the international system should be divided among them into huge spheres of influence. S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025 But there is also another way, short of empire, that explains how great powers act in the world: as hegemons, either regionally or globally. Ronald Suny, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025 The new Trumpian trade regime, featuring tribute transfers to the hegemon as well as high tariff walls, resembles the extractive economic policies of the Ming dynasty more than the open trade order to which American Presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama pledged fealty. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025 Moreover, there are no regional hegemons on the horizon. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hegemon

Word History

Etymology

Greek hēgemōn

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hegemon was in 1904

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Cite this Entry

“Hegemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hegemon. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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