hegemony

noun

he·​ge·​mo·​ny hi-ˈje-mə-nē  -ˈge- 

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

ˌhe-jə-ˈmä-nik 

ˌhe-gə-

adjective

Did you know?

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.”

Synonyms

• domination
• dominance
• supremacy
• dominion
• sovereignty

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

The surging price of gold is boosting some developing economies, challenging the US dollar’s hegemony — and changing jewelry designs. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025

At the time, a counter-discourse was also emerging that sought to challenge the Atlanticist hegemony over the historicization of art from the non-Western world. —Simon Njami, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025

What if a consistent winner could tap into a regional hegemony that stretched across the Mountain West? —Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

In a major speech on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CCP, in 2021, Xi did not call for Chinese hegemony or global leadership. —David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for hegemony

• anemone

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