First Known Use: 1567
Dictionary
hegemony
noun he·ge·mo·ny \hi-ˈje-mə-nē, -ˈge-; ˈhe-jə-ˌmō-nē\
: influence or control over another country, a group of people, etc.
Full Definition of HEGEMONY
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
— heg·e·mon·ic \ˌhe-jə-ˈmä-nik, ˌhe-gə-\ adjective
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Examples of HEGEMONY
- … 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
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Origin of HEGEMONY
Greek hēgemonia, from hēgemōn leader, from hēgeisthai to lead — more at seek
Related to HEGEMONY
- Synonyms
- ascendance (also ascendence), ascendancy (also ascendency), dominance, domination, dominion, supremacy, imperium, predominance, predominancy, preeminence, reign, sovereignty (also sovranty)
Other Government and Politics Terms
Rhymes with HEGEMONY
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