hegemon
noun
heg·e·mon
ˈhe-jə-ˌmän 
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 hegemon …—
Robert Heilbroner
Robert HeilbronerThe 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
Allister SparksExamples of hegemon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
President Joe Biden committed his own strategy to paper, citing China as an aspiring global hegemon that the United States needed to cooperate with when possible and contain when needed.
—Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 16 Dec. 2025
The more American power must be constrained, the more Washington will have to excel at persuasion, the obligatory pursuit of countries that are not hegemons.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025
This recrudescence of wolf warrior diplomacy is counterproductive and enables Japan to depict China as the bullying hegemon.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 30 Nov. 2025
From my perspective as a historian focusing on Israeli-Lebanese relations, the ceasefire and Israel’s emergence as the regional military hegemon has not translated into stability and constructive change in the Middle East, not even for Israel.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 26 Nov. 2025
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Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 16 Dec. 2025
The more American power must be constrained, the more Washington will have to excel at persuasion, the obligatory pursuit of countries that are not hegemons.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025
This recrudescence of wolf warrior diplomacy is counterproductive and enables Japan to depict China as the bullying hegemon.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 30 Nov. 2025
From my perspective as a historian focusing on Israeli-Lebanese relations, the ceasefire and Israel’s emergence as the regional military hegemon has not translated into stability and constructive change in the Middle East, not even for Israel.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hegemon
Cite this Entry
“Hegemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hegemon. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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