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TAKE THE QUIZcoup 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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
A lot of crazy things have to happen for the Colts to make it to January, including Ralph Nader seizing the presidency in a bloody coup d'etat.
—
Nat Newell, The Indianapolis Star, 10 July 2020
Also in attendance at that event was the junta leader who seized power in Guinea a little over a year after Mali's coup d'etat.
—Krista Larson, ajc, 24 Sep. 2022
In August 1991, hard-liners in the government launched an abortive coup d'etat.
—William Welch And Jorge Ortiz, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2022
The 84-year-old former leader was overthrown in a coup d'etat in September by a military junta that now leads the West African country.
—Washington Post, 5 May 2022
Schiff may also want to be reminded of José Sanjurjo y Sacanell, the Spanish general who led the July 1936 coup d'etat that started the Spanish Civil War.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022
Consider the recent efforts to atone for a massacre and coup d'etat that took place in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898 and left hundreds dead -- a brutal imposition of White political rule after the progress of Reconstruction.
—Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 4 Jan. 2022
In his remarks Monday evening, Erdogan framed the economic crisis as another foreign plot against Turkey, comparing it to a 2016 coup d'etat attempt that failed to push him from power.
—Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2021
It is often cited by historians as the only violent coup d'etat in the United States.
—Delano Massey, CNN, 7 Nov. 2021
See More
Nat Newell, The Indianapolis Star, 10 July 2020
Also in attendance at that event was the junta leader who seized power in Guinea a little over a year after Mali's coup d'etat.
—Krista Larson, ajc, 24 Sep. 2022
In August 1991, hard-liners in the government launched an abortive coup d'etat.
—William Welch And Jorge Ortiz, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2022
The 84-year-old former leader was overthrown in a coup d'etat in September by a military junta that now leads the West African country.
—Washington Post, 5 May 2022
Schiff may also want to be reminded of José Sanjurjo y Sacanell, the Spanish general who led the July 1936 coup d'etat that started the Spanish Civil War.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022
Consider the recent efforts to atone for a massacre and coup d'etat that took place in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898 and left hundreds dead -- a brutal imposition of White political rule after the progress of Reconstruction.
—Peniel E. Joseph, CNN, 4 Jan. 2022
In his remarks Monday evening, Erdogan framed the economic crisis as another foreign plot against Turkey, comparing it to a 2016 coup d'etat attempt that failed to push him from power.
—Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2021
It is often cited by historians as the only violent coup d'etat in the United States.
—Delano Massey, CNN, 7 Nov. 2021
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coup d'état.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
French, literally, stroke of state
First Known Use
1646, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near coup d'état
Cite this Entry
“Coup d'état.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coup%20d%27%C3%A9tat. Accessed 8 Mar. 2023.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on coup d'état
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coup d'état
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