coup d'état

American  

[koo dey-tah, koo dey-ta] / ˌku deɪˈtɑ, ku deɪˈta /

noun

plural

coups d'état

1. a sudden and decisive action in politics, especially one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force.

   Synonyms:

   uprising, revolution, rebellion, overthrow

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coup d'état British  

/ ku deta, ˈkuː deɪˈtɑː /

noun

1. a sudden violent or illegal seizure of government

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coup d'état Cultural  

1. A quick and decisive seizure of governmental power by a strong military or political group. In contrast to a revolution, a coup d'état, or coup, does not involve a mass uprising. Rather, in the typical coup, a small group of politicians or generals arrests the incumbent leaders, seizes the national radio and television services, and proclaims itself in power. Coup d'état is French for “stroke of the state” or “blow to the government.”

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Etymology

Origin of coup d'état

1640–50; < French: literally, stroke concerning the state

Example Sentences

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup d'etat, underwent successful surgery on Thursday to repair an inguinal hernia, his wife said.

From Barron's

When I wrote “Coup d’Etat: A Practical Handbook” in 1968, I didn’t anticipate that it would still be in print in many languages.

From The Wall Street Journal

Elsewhere we learn that, during the 1978 coup d’état, the hotel’s chefs “whipped up special dishes, turning tender steaks and scrumptious cakes into weapons of distraction.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Democracy was restored months later, after the Greek junta engineered a botched coup d'etat in Cyprus that prompted a Turkish invasion.

From Barron's

Presidential spokesperson Lova Ranoromaro said on social media that "we do not want a coup d'etat, because a coup d'etat destroys a nation, because a coup d'etat destroys the future of our children".

From BBC