coup d'état

/ˌkuː deɪˈtɑː/ French Origin Politics

Original Word

coup d'État

French

Entered English

17th century

First recorded usage in English

The Story Behind "coup d'état"

From French 'coup d'État', literally 'blow of state'. A sudden seizure of government power, typically by a small group. The term entered political vocabulary in the 17th century.

Example Usage

"The military attempted a coup d'état but was stopped by loyalist forces."

All French Loanwords Look Up in Dictionary

More French Loanwords

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