hegemony

From Ancient Greek ἡγεμονία (hēgemonía, “supremacy or leadership, chief command”), from ἡγεμών (hēgemṓn, “a leader, guide, commander, chief”), from ἡγέομαι (hēgéomai, “to lead”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /hɪˈɡɛm.ə.ni/, /hɪˈdʒɛm.ə.ni/
• (US) IPA^(key): /həˈdʒɛm.ə.ni/, /ˈhɛdʒ.(ə).moʊ.ni/

• Audio (US)

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hegemony (countable and uncountable, plural hegemonies)

1. (formal) Domination, influence, or authority over another, especially by one political group over a society or by one nation over others.
2. Dominance of one social group over another, such that the ruling group or hegemon acquires some degree of consent from the subordinate, as opposed to dominance purely by force.

   • ie: internationally among nation-states, and regionally over social classes, between languages or even culture.

     eg: The two political parties battled viciously for hegemony.

• hegemonism
• hegemonist
• hegemonize

• hegemon
• hegemonic

• hegemony in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• hegemony in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• "hegemony" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 144.