- Today's Word
Hegemony
huh-JEM-uh-nee (or HEJ-uh-moh-nee)
Definition
- (noun) Dominance or influence of one country, group, or ideology over others.
Example
The nation’s economic and cultural hegemony shaped global trends for decades.
Fun Fact
“Hegemony” comes from the Greek hegemon, meaning “leader.” The word is often used in political and cultural discussions to describe influence—whether in ancient empires, global superpowers, or even corporate industries. The next time you notice one brand or idea dominating the market, you’re witnessing hegemony in action!
(adjective) Relating to a distinctive habit, mannerism, or characteristic peculiar to an individual.
Her idiosyncratic habit of color-coding every notebook she owned was odd to others but essential to her.
Idiosyncratic traces back to the Greek idiosynkrasia, a combination of idios (“one’s own”), syn (“together”), and krasis (“mixture” or “temperament”). The word was originally used in medicine to describe a patient’s unique physical constitution or reaction to substances — a blend of qualities belonging only to that individual.