coup d'état

American  

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

noun

• coups d'état
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• coups d'état
  plural

Etymology

Origin of coup d'état

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coup d'état

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 ● Nov. 20, 2025

“In time of coup d’état and autocracy in Africa, this election is an opportunity to reinforce a unique democracy in central Africa,” said Fred Bauma, executive director of Congolese research institute Ebuteli.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 20, 2023

“After I started writing about the problem of the coup d’état, they didn’t invite me again,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2023

Boluarte said she plans to visit former President Castillo in prison, adding his "coup d'état surprised us all, including his ministers."

From Reuters ● Dec. 9, 2022

The coup d’état took place early in December, but they felt no alarm.

From The Brownings Their Life and Art by Lilian Whiting