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.

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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

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junta Cultural  

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

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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

Military juntas seized power in all three countries, promising to curb the insurgency.

From BBC

National television showed junta chief Abdourahamane Tiani visiting the military base and broadcast footage of what it said were attackers' bodies.

From Barron's

Stories like these added to the frustration in Beijing, which had long been demanding that Myanmar's junta rein in the scam mafia.

From BBC

The west African country has seen several military takeovers in its history and spent much of the 20th century under junta rule since its independence from Britain.

From Barron's

Brennan also said the US is not seeking to replace its bases in Niger after its troops were pushed out by the ruling junta.

From Barron's

Related Words

• faction
• government