/kuː/

coup

BrE /kuː/

NAmE /kuː/

(

plural

coups

BrE /kuːz/

NAmE /kuːz/

)

(also coup d’état)

a sudden change of government that is illegal and often violent

He seized power in a military coup in 2008.

to stage/mount a coup

an attempted coup

a failed/an abortive coup

She lost her position in a boardroom coup (= a sudden change of power among senior managers in a company).

the fact of achieving sth that was difficult to do

Getting this contract has been quite a coup for us.