Variant: or coup d'etat
Pronunciation: ˌ kü-( ˌ )d ā - ' tä, ' kü-( ˌ )d ā - ˌ , -d ə -
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural coups d'état or coups d'etat \ - ' tä(z), - ˌ tä(z) \
Etymology: F, literally, stroke of state
Date: 1646
: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group