coup

1 of 2

noun

ˈkü 

plural coups ˈküz 

1

: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics and especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group : coup d'état

In its first few hours, the coup seemed a terrifying confirmation of the power of the military, the police and, especially, the KGB.

—David Remnick

By nightfall, the troops had freed the captured President and ended the six-day-old coup, a military spokesman said.

—Marlise Simons

2

: a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful stroke or act

It's an impressive coup for the NCAA and its corporate sponsors to snag an artist with Springsteen's cachet for this event.

—Chris Strauss

From time to time, the conspiracy groupies pull off a huge disinformation coup.

—Alex Kozinski

Foreseeing a publicity coup, chairman Roger Smith was determined to exhibit an electric car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1990.

—Mark Fischetti

see also coup de grâce

coup

2 of 2

verb

ˈkōp 

couped; couping; coups

chiefly Scotland

: overturn, upset

Synonyms of coup

Noun

• success
• accomplishment
• achievement

Examples of coup in a Sentence

Noun

It was a major coup when they got the Vice President to appear on their show for an interview.

winning that big contract was a real coup

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Born in Santiago in 1952, Agüero studied architecture before turning to film studies, graduating soon after Chile’s popular socialist president Salvador Allende was overthrown in a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026

Chavez was a military officer who attempted an unsuccessful coup in 1992. —Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

In a potent echo of the present, the montage began with a photo of former Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, who was overthrown in a 1953 coup backed by British and American intelligence services. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026

On Tuesday, the president – who had been targeted for assassination by the coup plotters – speculated to Brazilian media that the former intelligence official would be extradited to serve his sentence in Brazil. —Maria Clara Matos, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, blow, stroke — more at cope entry 1

Verb

Middle English, to strike, from Anglo-French couper — more at cope entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1572, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coup

• counter-coup
• coup de grace
• coup de grâce
• coup de main
• coup d'etat
• coup de theatre
• coup de théâtre
• coup d'oeil
• coup d'état

Rhymes for coup

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• crew
• cue
• dew
• do

Kids Definition

coup

noun

ˈkü

plural coups

ˈküz

1

: a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful action

2

: coup d'état

Etymology

Noun

from French coup "blow, stroke"

Medical Definition

coup

noun

ˈkü 

: injury occurring on the side of an organ (as the brain) on which a blow or impact is received compare contrecoup