junta
n. countablen. a small group of people, usually military officers, who take control of a country by force. This group often rules after a government has been removed suddenly.
n. a small group, typically composed of military officers, that rules a country after seizing power by force. Often used to describe the transitional or permanent administration following a coup d'état.
The military junta took control of the capital overnight.
After the coup, the junta suspended the constitution and banned all political protests in the city.
International observers expressed grave concern that the ruling junta would fail to uphold its promise of returning the nation to civilian rule within the calendar year.
Often takes a singular verb in American English and a plural verb in British English.