A soft coup, sometimes referred to as a silent coup or a bloodless coup, is an illegal overthrow of a government that – unlike a regular coup d'état – is achieved without the use of force or violence.

The meaning of COUP is a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics and especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group : coup d'état.

Dec 2, 2025 · coup d’état, the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. The chief prerequisite for a coup is control of all or part of the armed forces, the police, and other …

COUP definition: 1. an unexpectedly successful achievement: 2. a sudden illegal, often violent, taking of…. Learn more.

COUP definition: to overturn; upset. See examples of coup used in a sentence.

Definition of coup noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Dec 15, 2025 · Since 2020, there have been 11 successful coups across Africa, and five thwarted attempts.

He told supporters at a rally in the capital, Sana'a, his government had turned down what he called a " coup " against his country's constitution and democracy.

Feb 5, 2025 · The term “coup” is often used loosely, but it has a specific meaning. Some people use it to describe any political turmoil, but a coup is more than just chaos or a disputed election.

A coup is an achievement which is thought to be especially good because it was very difficult.