hegemony

noun

he·​ge·​mo·​ny hi-ˈje-mə-nē How to pronounce hegemony (audio) -ˈge- How to pronounce hegemony (audio)
ˈhe-jə-ˌmō-nē
1
: preponderant influence or authority over others : domination
battled for hegemony in Asia
2
: the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group
hegemonic adjective

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Hegemony refers to a kind of domination. It was borrowed in the mid-16th century from the Greek word hēgemonia, a noun formed from the verb hēgeisthai, “to lead.” At first hegemony was used specifically to refer to the control once wielded by ancient Greek states; later it was applied to domination by other political actors. By the 19th century, the word had acquired a second sense referring to the social or cultural influence wielded by a dominant entity over others of its kind, a sense employed by design scholar Joshua Langman when describing the use of found objects by French artist Marcel Duchamp (he of notorious readymade Fountain fame) as a means “to question and criticize the values of the artistic hegemony by eschewing craft entirely.”

Examples of hegemony in a Sentence

… the very concept of "scientific truth" can only represent a social construction invented by scientists (whether consciously or not) as a device to justify their hegemony over the study of nature. Stephen Jay Gould, Science, 14 Jan. 2000
When Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, in June of 1941, distracted Japan's traditional rival for hegemony in East Asia, Japanese expansionists saw a historic opportunity. David M. Kennedy, Atlantic, March 1999
If mermaids had ceased to challenge scientific hegemony, other similarly mythological creatures rushed in to fill their places in Victorian hearts and minds. Harriet Ritvo, The Platypus and the Mermaid, 1997
They discussed the national government's hegemony over their tribal community. European intellectuals have long debated the consequences of the hegemony of American popular culture around the world.
Recent Examples on the Web There are some reasons to be bullish about the chances of mainstream big-pants hegemony. Jonah Weiner, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Xi has mounted an aggressive challenge to Western hegemony and positioned China as a superpower deserving equal respect and an equal say in world affairs as the United States—moves that have worked entirely to Modi’s advantage. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Given the growing hegemony of the SEC and Big Ten, is Campbell ready to leave the Big 12? Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2024 Competition and deterrence are critical to such an outcome: Chinese leaders must be convinced that hegemony is not an option. Michael J. Mazarr, Foreign Affairs, 9 Feb. 2024 There are no practical, much less plausible, alternatives to U.S. hegemony on the high seas. Noah Rothman, National Review, 23 Jan. 2024 But there was another reason why the dollar’s hegemony grew: the intentional impoverishment of America’s working class. Yanis Varoufakis, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2024 Policymakers and pundits in Washington began talking about China’s goal of challenging US hegemony across the world, and talking up the risks that might bring. Will Knight, WIRED, 23 Jan. 2024 With the collapse of the Soviet empire, the Eastern European countries now under Soviet hegemony will become independent and will join the European community. James Rosen, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hegemony.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek hēgemonia, from hēgemōn leader, from hēgeisthai to lead — more at seek

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hegemony was in 1567

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Cite this Entry

“Hegemony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hegemony. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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