coup d'état

American  

[koo dey-tah, koo dey-ta] / ˌku deɪˈtɑ, ku deɪˈta /

noun

PLURAL

coups d'état

1. a sudden and decisive action in politics, especially one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force.

   Synonyms:

   uprising , revolution , rebellion , overthrow

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coup d'état British  

/ ku deta, ˈkuː deɪˈtɑː /

noun

1. a sudden violent or illegal seizure of government

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coup d'état Cultural  

1. A quick and decisive seizure of governmental power by a strong military or political group. In contrast to a revolution, a coup d'état, or coup, does not involve a mass uprising. Rather, in the typical coup, a small group of politicians or generals arrests the incumbent leaders, seizes the national radio and television services, and proclaims itself in power. Coup d'état is French for “stroke of the state” or “blow to the government.”

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Etymology

Origin of coup d'état

1640–50; < French: literally, stroke concerning the state

Example Sentences

Elsewhere we learn that, during the 1978 coup d’état, the hotel’s chefs “whipped up special dishes, turning tender steaks and scrumptious cakes into weapons of distraction.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Democracy was restored months later, after the Greek junta engineered a botched coup d'etat in Cyprus that prompted a Turkish invasion.

From Barron's

On Sunday, the opposition group made up of Gbagbo and Thiam's parties denounced the election as a "civilian coup d'etat," saying they would not recognise Ouattara as a validly elected leader.

From BBC

On Wednesday, Gbagbo condemned the poll as a "civilian coup d'etat" and "electoral robbery".

From Barron's

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro -- whose last two reelection victories have been widely disputed -- has accused Washington of plotting "regime change," while Colombia's Gustavo Petro has suggested the idea of "a coup d'etat against me."

From Barron's