Main Entry: coup d'état

Variant(s): or coup d'etat \ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌ, -də-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural coups d'état or coups d'etat \-ˈtä(z), -ˌtä(z)\

Etymology: French, literally, stroke of state

Date: 1646

: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics; especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group