English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Unadapted borrowing from French coup d’État (literally stroke (or blow) of state).

Pronunciation edit

  • (US) enPR: ko͞o' dā-täʹ, IPA(key): /ˌku deɪˈtɑ/
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌkuː deɪˈtɑː/
  • (file)

Noun edit

coup d'état (plural coups d'état or coup d'états)

  1. (politics, government) The sudden overthrow of a government, differing from a revolution by being carried out by a small group of people who replace only the leading figures.
    Synonyms: coup, putsch

Descendants edit

Translations edit

See also edit