Hybris

Hybris is a term with roots in ancient Greek, where hybris denotes overstepping boundaries, insolence, or excessive pride. In English, hubris is the more common rendering, but hybris remains in use in some contexts and languages, particularly in classical scholarship and certain branding or scholarly discussions.

In classical tragedy and philosophy, hybris describes pride or arrogance that defies the gods or the natural order, often provoking nemesis and leading to downfall. It is a central motif in Greek literature and moral thought, illustrating how excessive self-assertion or disrespect for limits can bring about divine or social retribution.

In modern usage, hybris can denote overconfidence, disregard for rules or norms, or an audacious attitude perceived as reckless or arrogant. The term is employed in criticism, philosophy, sociology, and cultural analysis to discuss attitudes or actions deemed excessive or self-centered.

In business and technology, Hybris Software was a German e-commerce software company established in the late 1990s that developed the Hybris platform for multi-channel commerce and related services. SAP acquired Hybris Software in 2013 and integrated the platform into its offerings; it has been marketed as SAP Hybris and later as SAP Commerce Cloud within the SAP Customer Experience portfolio.

Today, the hybris concept survives as both a historical term in classical studies and as part of branding and product naming in corporate contexts. In English-language discourse, hubris remains the more common form, though hybris is still encountered in scholarly and cross-cultural usage.