Coup d'état, also called coup, 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 military elements.

Why do we say coup d état?

The term comes from French coup d'état, literally meaning a "stroke of state" or "blow of state." In French, the word État (French: [eta]) is capitalized when it denotes a sovereign political entity.

What is the difference between coup d'état and coup de grace?

“Coup d'etat” is often shortened to coup and used to describe a take-over of power, as in “a military coup.” The p is silent. coup de grace /kudə ˈgrɑs/ noun. a blow by which one condemned or mortally wounded is quickly killed to be spared further suffering.