coup
Coup (noun) means a sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, often by the military. Example: “The general led a coup that ousted the president overnight.”
How to Use Coup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden overthrow of a government, or more loosely, an impressive and unexpected success.
Often shortened informally from "coup d'état," but "coup" alone is standard in everyday English.
Word Forms
couped past tense, couped past tense, coups plural, coups singular, coups singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The general led a _____ that ousted the president overnight.
Etymology
From French coup ("blow, strike"), from Late Latin colpus — the same root that gives "cope" in one of its senses.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for coup
See all rhymes for 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.
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