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

No issue facing Southeast Asia's foreign ministers has been more fraught than how to reintegrate Myanmar, a member state formally excluded from such summits since its military junta seized power in 2021.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Argentina, ruled at the time by a military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the islands, situated 300 miles off Argentina's east coast, in 1982.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

But junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was installed as civilian president in April following highly restricted elections, and neighbouring Thailand has been leading an effort to begin normalising relations.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

Myanmar, another sanctioned nation, is still run by a military junta.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

It was the time of the junta, and because he couldn’t obtain the necessary medicines, he watched helplessly as the first patient died from the disease.

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

The three states are ruled by military juntas which seized power in coups.

From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2025

Ruled by military juntas, both countries have ended the presence of Western troops, particularly French forces, over recent years.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2025

I consulted with their juntas, I was present at their festivals, I rode with their hidalgos, and I marched with their troops.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 58, No. 359, September 1845 by Various

Related Words

• faction
• government