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coup d'etat

UK/ˌkuː deɪˈtɑː/US/ˌku deɪˈtɑ/
nounC1Not compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

A coup d'etat is a sudden illegal seizure of government. Attempt a coup d'etat.

It is done by people already inside the state, which separates it from a revolution. A coup d'etat is usually over in hours and decided by who holds the broadcasters.

François Bouchot · Public domain

Definitions of coup d'etat

  1. 1nouncoup d'etatA sudden illegal seizure of government.C1

    “The coup d'etat was announced on the radio at dawn.”

coup d'etat is an event.

Also accepted in games: coup

Where it comes from

  1. French

    coup d'État

  2. English

    coup d'état

  3. English, today

    coup d'etat

coup d'état French coup d'État literally “strike (or blow or cut) of state”.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Politics & Society

Practise this word