coup — a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government
Pronunciation (IPA): /kuː/
Example Sentences
- The chef's decision to add pineapple to pizza was considered a coup against Italian culinary traditions.
- The opposition party's coup was swiftly crushed by loyal forces.
- Landing that celebrity endorsement was a real marketing coup.
coup
NOUN[/kuː/]
a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government

a uniformed military commander forcefully escorts a government official away from the building entrance. The commander grips the official's arm while pointing toward a waiting military vehicle. The official looks shocked and protests but cannot resist the armed guards surrounding them. Government workers and civilians scatter in fear as soldiers take control of the building. a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French 'coup' meaning 'blow' or 'strike'. Originally shortened from 'coup d'état' (literally 'blow to the state'), referring to a sudden overthrow of government.
Breakdown
coup (blow/strike) - no prefix or suffix, stands alone as borrowed from French
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The chef's decision to add pineapple to pizza was considered a coup against Italian culinary traditions.”
“The opposition party's coup was swiftly crushed by loyal forces.”
“Landing that celebrity endorsement was a real marketing coup.”
“My cat staged a coup and claimed the dog's bed as her new territory.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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