junta

[ hoon-tuh, juhn‑, huhn‑ ]

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.

junta

/ ˈdʒʊntə; ˈhʊntə; ˈdʒʌn- /

noun

1. a group of military officers holding the power in a country, esp after a coup d'état
2. Also calledjunto a small group of men; cabal, faction, or clique
3. a legislative or executive council in some parts of Latin America

junta

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

Pronunciation Note

When the word junta was borrowed into English from Spanish in the early 17th century, its pronunciation was thoroughly Anglicized to [juhn, -t, uh]. The 20th century has seen the emergence and, especially in North America, the gradual predominance of the pronunciation [hoon, -t, uh], derived from Spanish [hoon, -tah] through reassociation with the word's Spanish origins. A hybrid form [huhn, -t, uh] is also heard.

Word History and Origins

Origin of junta¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of junta¹

C17: from Spanish: council, from Latin junctus joined, from jungere to join

Example Sentences

Since taking power in a coup in 2021, Mali's junta has sought to reconfigure its political and trade relationships with international partners.

From BBC

Last year marked a turn of the tide, as the junta saw a fresh wave of attacks from insurgents that have since pushed the military government to breaking point.

From BBC

But the opposition is still a long way from defeating the junta, and China fears that if it were to collapse, even worse chaos might ensue as different armed groups jostled for power.

From BBC

Turning instead to Russia for weapons and military personnel, the juntas also appreciate the fact that Moscow refrains from pressing them to restore elected government.

From BBC

Rebel groups have rejected a peace offer from Myanmar’s embattled junta, which is reeling from battlefield losses and defections in a civil war that has dragged on for more than three years.

From BBC

Related Words

• faction
• government