agonism

A1G2O1N1I1S1M3
/ˈæɡ.əˌnɪz.əm/

noun

Competitive struggle (especially political).

Scrabble 10

Meanings

nounagonism (plural agonisms)

plural agonisms

  1. Competitive struggle (especially political).

    This is where the great replacement comes in. As mendacious and deranged as it is, it provides a structural explanation for various aspects of the polycrisis, and comes with in-built agonism for politicians to exploit.

    2023 August 23, Oliver Haynes, “European conservative parties are out of ideas, but absorbing the far right isn’t the answer”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
    1 more example

    The internal competition between tendencies or natures that Machiavelli recognizes in individuals and groups and that Nietzsche sees as multiple drives is a form of “agonism.” Agonism is the idea that conflict and struggle are the natural basis of life and that this is replicated in social, political, and cultural life.

    2007, Diego A. Von Vacano, The Art of Power: Machiavelli, Nietzsche, and the Making of Aesthetic Political Theory, Lexington Books, →ISBN, page 82
  2. biochemistryThe relationship between an agonist and a receptor.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀγών“contest”
  2. Latinagōn
  3. Englishagonism

From agon + -ism, from Latin agōn, from Ancient Greek ἀγών (agṓn, “contest”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Italian agonismo
  • agonismorelationship between an agonist and a receptor
Portuguese agonismo
  • agonismorelationship between an agonist and a receptor
Cite this entry
APA

agonism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agonism

MLA

“agonism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agonism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “agonism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agonism.

Source: agonism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.