coup

noun
\ ˈkü How to pronounce coup (audio) \
plural coups\ ˈküz How to pronounce coups (audio) \

Definition of coup

 (Entry 1 of 2)

2 : a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful stroke or act She pulled off quite a coup when she snagged the usually reclusive author for an interview.

coup

verb
\ ˈkōp How to pronounce coup (audio) \
couped; couping; coups

Definition of coup (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly Scotland

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for coup

Synonyms: Noun

accomplishment, achievement, acquirement, attainment, baby, success, triumph

Antonyms: Noun

nonachievement

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

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

Petr Cech and Mohamed Elneny were the only additions to the Gunners that summer, and while Cech was a real coup, there were so many other areas that needed strengthening. SI.com, "Ranking Every Arsenal Summer Transfer Window Since 2002," 11 Aug. 2019 Cliburn and Bass were coups for Christie's, for Texas and for Ryan. Dallas News, "The Auction Whisperer: For Dallas' Capera Ryan, friendship comes before the handshake," 1 Aug. 2019 Five years have passed since Gilead was established in a coup carried out by the Sons of Jacob. Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "We Finally Know How Much Time Has Passed In The Handmaid's Tale," 25 July 2019 Oktay was speaking at celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the east Mediterranean island nation that followed a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece. Washington Post, "Turkey steps up drilling activities around Cyprus," 20 July 2019 In buffeting the James acquisition with a bunch of aging and balky parts, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka followed their great coup with a giant crash. John Cherwa, latimes.com, "The Sports Report: Future of Lakers franchise on Pelinka’s shoulders," 18 June 2019 In the years following the 2009 coup, Honduras became the most dangerous country in the world for environmental and human rights activists. Mark Weisbrot, The New Republic, "Tariffs Are a Bad Response to an Imaginary Border Crisis," 5 June 2019 Ahab’s second son Jehoram was then ousted from the throne in a bloody coup by a commander named Jehu, reportedly with Elijah’s assistance, while Queen Jezebel was thrown to her death and set upon by dogs (II Kings 9:34; 10:9). National Geographic, "How a pagan queen became a notorious villain in the Bible," 15 Mar. 2019 Turkish Cypriots declared independence nearly a decade after the island was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Menelaos Hadjicostis, Fox News, "Turkish Cypriots protest price hikes from Turkish lira woes," 6 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coup.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of coup

Noun

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1572, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for coup

Noun

French, blow, stroke — more at cope entry 1

Verb

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

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for coup

coup

noun

English Language Learners Definition of coup

: an impressive victory or achievement that usually is difficult or unexpected

coup

noun
\ ˈkü How to pronounce coup (audio) \

Medical Definition of coup

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

Keep scrolling for more