Hegemony
/hɪˈdʒɛməni/
Definitions
Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.
/hɪˈdʒɛməni/
Dominant influence or authority over others.
The company’s marketing strategy aimed to establish its hegemony in the market.
💡 Simply: Imagine one kid in the group who always gets to decide what game you play. That's like hegemony – one person or group has the most power and influence, so they get to call the shots.
👶 For kids: When one group or country is the boss and everyone else has to follow their rules.
More Examples
The cultural hegemony of Hollywood is evident in the global popularity of its films.
The empire's economic hegemony allowed it to control the trade routes.
How It's Used
"The country's military strength allowed it to maintain its hegemony over neighboring states."
"The debate centered on the implications of the United States' global hegemony after the Cold War."
Idioms & expressions
cultural hegemony
The dominance of one culture over others.
"The spread of American fast-food chains can be seen as an example of cultural hegemony."
economic hegemony
The dominance of one economic power over others.
"The country's economic hegemony allowed it to shape global trade policies."
From Greek ἡγεμονία (hēgemonia), meaning 'leadership' or 'rule,' derived from the word ἡγεμών (hēgemōn), meaning 'leader'. It originally referred to the dominant power of a state or social group over others.
The word 'hegemony' has been used since the 16th century, initially in reference to the dominance of Greek city-states and later to describe the dominance of any nation or power.
Memory tip
Think of a king ruling over all his lands. Hegemony is like that king's rule.