The meaning of COUP is a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics and especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group : coup d'état.

COUP definition: to overturn; upset. See examples of coup used in a sentence.

COUP definition: 1. an unexpectedly successful achievement: 2. a sudden illegal, often violent, taking of…. Learn more.

Dec 2, 2025 · coup d’état, the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. The chief prerequisite for a coup is control of all or part of the armed forces, the police, and other …

Definition of coup noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

When there is a coup, a group of people seize power in a country. ...a military coup. They were sentenced to death for their part in April's coup attempt.

1. A brilliantly executed stratagem; a triumph. 2. a. A coup d'état. b. A sudden appropriation of leadership or power; a takeover: a boardroom coup. 3. Among certain Native American peoples, a …

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English. intransitive verb To make a coup. noun A sudden stroke delivered with promptness and force; -- used also in various ways to …

• S.-backed coup which overthrew a democratically elected government. • The next morning, a week after his coup, senior army officers told him his time had run out. • For Stewart, the Athens …

A coup, short for coup d'état, is a sudden and illegal seizure of power from a government. This often involves the military or other elite factions overthrowing an existing regime and is typically …