(politics, government) The sudden overthrow of a government, differing from a revolution by being carried out by a small group of people who replace only the leading figures.

(fencing) A counter-attack that attempts to take advantage of an uncertain attack

(informal, politics) a military coup d'état instigated by a group of unit commanders, a faction of the military, and not the military establishment

(informal, politics) A military coup d'état instigated by the military establishment (or a majority of it), not just a faction of the military.

plural of coup d'état

plural of colonels' coup

plural of generals' coup

plural of Bath coup

(bridge) A coup where the declarer, holding AJx in a suit, ducks the left-hand opponent's lead of a king or queen.

plural of coup de maitre