coup de thé·âtre
| \ ˌkü-də-tā-ˈätrᵊ
\
\
variants:
or coup de theatre
plural coups de théâtre or coups de theatre\
ˌkü-də-tā-ˈätrᵊ
\
\
Definition of coup de théâtre
1
: a sudden sensational turn in a play
also
: a sudden dramatic effect or turn of events
2
: a theatrical success
Learn More About coup de théâtre
Statistics for coup de théâtre
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Coup de théâtre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coup%20de%20th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre. Accessed 17 Aug. 2022.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Words Named After People
-
- Namesake of the leotard, Jules Léotard had what profession?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Name That Animal: Volume 2
Can you tell a meerkat from a wombat?
Take the quiz
-
Fashionable Words
A vocab quiz with panache
Take the quiz
-
Name That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question ...
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share coup de théâtre
Time Traveler for coup de théâtre
The first known use of coup de théâtre was in 1747
See more words from the same year