Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

junta

American  
[hoon-tuh, juhn‑, huhn‑] / ˈhʊn tə, ˈdʒʌn‑, ˈhʌn‑ /

noun

  1. a small group ruling a country, especially immediately after a coup d'état and before a legally constituted government has been instituted.

  2. a council.

  3. a deliberative or administrative council, especially in Spain and Latin America.

  4. junto.

junta British  
/ ˈdʒʊntə, ˈhʊntə, ˈdʒʌn- /

noun

  1. a group of military officers holding the power in a country, esp after a coup d'état

  2. Also called: junto.  a small group of men; cabal, faction, or clique

  3. a legislative or executive council in some parts of Latin America

"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
junta Cultural  

  1. A group of military leaders who govern a country after a coup d'état.

Pronunciation

When the word junta was borrowed into English from Spanish in the early 17th century, its pronunciation was thoroughly Anglicized to . The 20th century has seen the emergence and, especially in North America, the gradual predominance of the pronunciation , derived from Spanish through reassociation with the word's Spanish origins. A hybrid form is also heard.

Etymology

Origin of junta

1615–25; < Spanish: a meeting, noun use of feminine of Latin junctus, past participle of jungere to join; junction

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.

Traoré initially pledged to restore democratic rule to the West African country by July 2024, but two months before this deadline, the junta announced it would extend its rule for another five years.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

With Chinese and Russian help, the junta has now recaptured some of the ground lost over the past two years.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The upper house, meanwhile, elected Nan Ni Ni Aye, a regional MP from Karen state with USDP, as another vice-president, the junta said in a statement.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Washington previously operated a major drone base in neighbouring Niger, which has since shuttered after the ruling junta ordered US forces to depart the country.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

Farmer was hoping Aristide would openly challenge the junta by running for president.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.