junta

American  

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

noun

• juntas
  plural

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• juntas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of junta

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

Explanation

When a government is overthrown, the coalition or group that forms and takes control is called a junta. If the military has seized control, as so often happens, then the group is called a military junta. Junta is pronounced with an initial h sound, which gives you a clue to its origins. It’s from the Spanish junta, for a military or political group ruling the country after it has been taken over. Spanish got junta from the Latin jungere, to join. Remember, all the players in the junta must join together to overthrow the government.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

junta juntas

It was the highest-level engagement between Washington and Myanmar’s ruling junta since the 2021 coup that ousted its elected leader, the Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and plunged the country into civil war.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

But there were U.S. bureaucratic obstacles, including uncertainty about negotiating with the Myanmar junta and questions about which agency would take the lead, the officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Last May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests, which former Prime Minister Moussa Mara described as a severe blow to reconciliation efforts initiated by the military leaders.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

The anti-scam law is the first legislation passed by Myanmar's new government, headed by former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

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

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

This month, Venezuela and the military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger also started the process of leaving the ICC, based in The Hague, which prosecutes individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Benin officials suspect Tigri, Samary and the sergeant have found shelter with one of the neighboring military juntas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

He now has to do business with neighbours led by hostile military juntas -- notably in Burkina Faso -- which are battling jihadists.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2025

These countries are now all run by military juntas.

From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2025

Vehemence of language had been the rule in the Salamancan juntas of professors, and much of this intemperate tone clung to Luis de Leon.

From Fray Luis de León A Biographical Fragment by James Fitzmaurice-Kelly

Related Words

• faction
• government