coup d'état

noun

ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä 

ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌtä,

-də-

variants or coup d'etat

plural coups d'état or coups d'etat ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä 

ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌtä,

-də-

also coup d'états or coup d'etats

: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics

especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group

a military coup d'état of the dictator

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, stroke of state

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

coup d'état

noun

coup d'é·​tat

ˌküd-(ˌ)ā-ˈtä,

ˌküd-ə-

plural coups d'état

-ˈtä(z)

: a sudden overthrowing of a government by a small group

Etymology

from French coup d'état, literally, "stroke of state (the government)," from coup "blow, stroke" and de "of" and état "state"