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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

coup d'état British  
/ ku deta, ˈkuː deɪˈtɑː /

noun

  1. a sudden violent or illegal seizure of government

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.”


Etymology

Origin of coup d'état

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He also released a book in 2021 titled "The Real Anthony Fauci," in which he accused the country's top infectious disease doctor of committing "a historic coup d'etat against Western democracy."

From Salon

Mr Kennedy also published a book, The Real Anthony Fauci, in which he accused the former US infectious disease chief of "a historic coup d'etat against Western democracy".

From BBC

Kennedy released a book in 2021, “The Real Anthony Fauci,” in which he accused the U.S.’s top infectious disease doctor of assisting in “a historic coup d’etat against Western democracy” and promoted unproven COVID-19 treatments such as ivermectin, which is meant to treat parasites, and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.

From Seattle Times

A second judge, describing the syndicate’s leader, Paul Le Roux, wrote that “the scale and variety of his outrageous criminal conduct defies an easy summary, and includes arms and technology dealings with Iran and North Korea, attempts at minor warlordism in Africa, and the plotting of a coup d’état in the Seychelles.”

From New York Times

“This is a coup d’etat,” Alon Pinkas, who served as a senior foreign policy advisor in several Israeli administrations, said in an interview from his home in Tel Aviv.

From Los Angeles Times