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coup d'etat

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coup d'etat

Main Entry:: coup d'état
Variant(s):: or coup d'etat \ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌ, -də-\
Function:: noun
Inflected Form(s):: plural coups d'état or coups d'etat \-ˈtä(z), -ˌtä(z)\
Etymology:: French, 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

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