Word of the Day

Hegemony

he•gem•o•ny
Pronunciation Key: [hi-JEM-uh-nee, HEJ-uh-moh-nee]
Function: noun
Date: 1567
Etymology: from the Greek hegemonia "leadership," from hegemon "leader," from hegeisthai "to lead." Originally of predominance of one city state or another in Gk. history.

1. leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.
2. leadership; predominance.
3. (esp. among smaller nations) aggression or expansionism by large nations in an effort to achieve world domination.

"The hegemony of a single member state is not incompatible with a genuine confederation."

Thanks to Constant Comment for today's WOTD entry