coup d'état: Meaning and Definition of

coup d'é•tat

Pronunciation: (k" dā-tä' Fr. k dā-ta'), [key]
— pl. coups d'é•tat
  1. a sudden and decisive action in politics, esp. one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.