noun
Common
coup
koo
Coup (noun) means a sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, often by the military. Example: “Soldiers took over the radio station during the coup.”
noun
1
A sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, often by the military.
"Soldiers took over the radio station during the coup."
"Many citizens feared another coup after the leader resigned."
"The general led a coup that ousted the president overnight."
2
A brilliant and highly successful move or achievement.
"The diplomatic messaging of RCEP may be just as important as the economics—a coup for China."
— Yen Nee Lee, ‘A coup for China’: Analysts react to the world’s largest trade deal that excludes the U.S (2020)
"Booking the famous band for our small festival was quite a coup."
"She pulled off a coup by finishing the project a week early."
"Landing that client was a real coup for the small agency."
"The conference was a major coup for Robarts, who received congratulations for his 'expert handling' of the 'risky venture.'"
— P. E. Bryden, The Ontario-Quebec Axis: Postwar Strategies in Intergovernmental Negotiations (2000)
"While the price was considered a coup for Morgan, enhancing his reputation on Wall Street, Carnegie had a different explanation for his selling price."
— Charles R. Geisst, Wall Street: A History (2004)
How to use coup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden overthrow of a government, or more loosely, an impressive and unexpected success.
Common mistake
Often shortened informally from "coup d'état," but "coup" alone is standard in everyday English.
Common pairings
stage a coup
coup d'état
pull off a coup
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Word forms
- Plural
- coups
- Third person singular
- coups
- Past tense
- couped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Soldiers took over the radio station during the _____.
Etymology
From French coup ("blow, strike"), from Late Latin colpus — the same root that gives "cope" in one of its senses.
Related words
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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