Definition of coup d'état
plural coups d'état
or coups d'etat
play
\ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌtä, -də-\
: 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
