# coup

/ˈku/ (US) · /kˈuːp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coup
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a sudden change of government

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, often violent, move by a group of people to take control of a country's government.

For teachers: a sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government, typically by a small group or the military.

- The military led a coup and took control of the capital overnight.
- Following months of civil unrest, the army staged a bloodless coup, ousting the president and suspending the constitution.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'stage', 'lead', or 'plot'.

### 3. to overthrow a government

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to take control of a country by force.

For teachers: to subject a nation or administration to a coup d'état.

- The rebels tried to coup the government but failed after two days.
- Political analysts debated whether the faction had the logistical support required to successfully coup the ruling regime.

### 4. to tip or empty

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · British English

to tilt or empty something out, like a cart.

For teachers: to overturn, tilt, or empty out a container or vehicle.

- He couped the cart to get the dirt out.
- The worker couped the barrow, spilling the gravel across the driveway in a single motion.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to Northern England and Scotland; most English speakers will use 'tip' or 'dump' instead.

## Examples

- Winning that big contract was a real coup for the small firm.
- The newspaper scored a major coup by landing an exclusive interview with the reclusive director.
- While the military coup dominated the international headlines, local analysts focused on the economic instability that had preceded the sudden change in leadership.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.