coup
0 antonyms and opposites of coup, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, often by the military.
How to use coup
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From French coup ("blow, strike"), from Late Latin colpus — the same root that gives "cope" in one of its senses.
Full origin of coup →Frequently asked questions
What does “coup” mean?
The word “coup” means a sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, often by the military. In plain terms, a sudden overthrow of a government, or more loosely, an impressive and unexpected success.
How do you pronounce “coup”?
“Coup” is pronounced koo (/ku/ in IPA).
How do you use “coup” in a sentence?
Here is “coup” used in a sentence: “The general led a coup that ousted the president overnight.”
What part of speech is “coup”?
“Coup” is a noun.
Where does the word “coup” come from?
The word “coup” comes from Late Latin. From French coup ("blow, strike"), from Late Latin colpus — the same root that gives "cope" in one of its senses.
Is “coup” a common word?
“Coup” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “coup” have?
“Coup” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, often by the military.
What is the difference between a coup and a revolution?
A coup is a sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, typically carried out by a small group such as military officers. A revolution involves mass popular participation and aims to replace the whole political or social order, whereas a coup usually just changes who holds power.
What is the difference between a coup and a coup d'état?
There is no difference in meaning: coup is the shortened form of the French phrase coup d'état, and English uses the two interchangeably for a sudden, illegal seizure of power. On its own, coup also has an everyday second sense — any brilliant, highly successful move or achievement.
Can coup mean something positive?
Yes. Outside politics, a coup is a brilliant and highly successful move or achievement, as in "Landing that interview was a real coup." Context makes clear whether the political sense or the achievement sense is intended.