hegemony
C1Academic, political, formal
Definition
Meaning
Political, economic, or cultural leadership or dominance by one state or group over others.
Any form of dominant influence or control, not necessarily through direct force but often through consent, norms, and ideology, within a system (e.g., cultural hegemony, corporate hegemony).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a system of influence that is accepted as natural or legitimate, not just raw power. In critical theory, it refers to how ruling classes maintain power through cultural institutions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Slightly more common in UK academic/political discourse due to Gramscian influence.
Connotations
Often carries a negative or critical connotation, implying unjust dominance. Can be neutral in historical analysis.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions. Higher in political science, sociology, international relations, and media studies.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + hegemony (e.g., establish, challenge, maintain)hegemony + [preposition] + [entity] (e.g., hegemony over Europe)the hegemony of [entity]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a formal term not typically used in idioms.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The company seeks hegemony in the streaming market.'
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, international relations, and cultural studies. E.g., 'Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might appear in sophisticated political commentary.
Technical
Core term in critical theory (Gramsci), international relations (hegemonic stability theory), and political philosophy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A. The verb is 'hegemonise' but is exceptionally rare and not standard.
American English
- N/A. The verb is 'hegemonize' but is exceptionally rare and not standard.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Hegemonically' exists but is extremely rare and stylistically marked.
American English
- N/A. 'Hegemonically' exists but is extremely rare and stylistically marked.
adjective
British English
- The hegemonic power of British cinema in the 1940s is often debated.
- They resisted the hegemonic discourse of the time.
American English
- American hegemonic influence was a defining feature of the post-war era.
- Critics point to the hegemonic norms in mainstream media.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- N/A. Word is too advanced for A2.
- After the war, one country had hegemony over the others.
- The king's hegemony was accepted by the people.
- The economic hegemony of the multinational corporation was challenged by local businesses.
- Historians debate the Roman Empire's hegemony in the Mediterranean.
- The cultural hegemony of Hollywood shapes cinematic tastes worldwide, often marginalising other film traditions.
- Gramsci argued that the ruling class maintains power not just by force but through intellectual and moral hegemony.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HEG (a large, bossy person) in a MONY (money) factory, telling everyone what to do. The HEG's MONY (hegemony) means the HEG controls the whole operation.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEGEMONY IS A WEIGHT/LOAD (bear hegemony, shift hegemony), HEGEMONY IS A POSITION (attain hegemony, lose hegemony).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with гегемония (gegemoniya) which is a direct cognate but carries a strong negative, ideological connotation from Soviet-era discourse. The English term is more academic and descriptive, though often critical.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronunciation: /'he.dʒə.mo.ni/ (wrong stress).
- Misspelling: 'hegemony' (common).
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'power' or 'control' without the systemic/consensual dimension.
Practice
Quiz
In critical theory, the term 'hegemony' most specifically refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. In analytical contexts (e.g., 'Pax Britannica'), it can be neutral. However, it often carries a critical connotation, implying unequal power structures.
Imperialism typically involves direct political and territorial control. Hegemony is broader, involving indirect dominance through economic, cultural, and ideological means, often with the consent of the dominated.
The Italian Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937), who developed the concept of 'cultural hegemony' to explain how ruling classes maintain control by shaping societal norms.
Yes, but it's metaphorical and formal. For example: 'The tech giant's hegemony in the smartphone market is being eroded by new competitors.' 'Market dominance' is a more common business term.
Collections
Part of a collection
Social Theory
C1 · 47 words · Advanced vocabulary for sociology and social science.
Political Theory
C2 · 44 words · Advanced vocabulary for political science and theory.