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coup

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /kuː/

coup means: A sudden, illegal takeover of a government, often by soldiers.

noun

SEIZE GOVERNMENTB2

A sudden, illegal takeover of a government, often by soldiers.

  • The army staged a coup.
  • The president fled after the military coup.
  • Several officers were arrested for planning a coup.

How to use it: a coup against someone/something (The officers planned a coup against the president.)

Similar words: coup d’état, overthrow

Common phrases: military coup, attempted coup, stage a coup

IMPRESSIVE SUCCESSC1

An impressive success in doing something difficult or getting something valuable.

  • Winning that contract was a coup.
  • The interview was a major publicity coup.
  • Securing her support would be quite a coup for us.

How to use it: a coup for someone/something (Signing the famous singer was a coup for the festival.)

Similar words: triumph, success, achievement

Common phrases: major coup, publicity coup, diplomatic coup

Questions about coup

What does coup mean?

A sudden, illegal takeover of a government, often by soldiers.

What is coup in other languages?

Türkçe: darbe · Español: golpe de Estado · Français: coup d’État · Deutsch: Putsch · Italiano: colpo di Stato · 日本語: クーデター

How do you pronounce coup?

It is pronounced /kuː/.

How do you use coup in a sentence?

The army staged a coup. The president fled after the military coup.

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