coup d'état
noun
\ ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä
, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌtä, -də-\
, 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- \
, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌtä , -də- \
Definition of coup d'état
: 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