Coup
The sudden seizure or replacement of government. Often scripted by others, far in advance.
How We Say It
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Where It Comes From
French coup d'état — stroke of state. Coup from Latin colpus — a blow. The full phrase implies a blow struck against the state itself, not just a change of personnel but a change of the rules.
How It's Been Used
Military coups — armed forces removing a civilian government — are the classic form. 'Soft coups' or 'constitutional coups' describe the use of legal mechanisms to remove or neutralize an elected government without military action. In American political debate, the word has been applied to the events of January 6, 2021 — a usage that is contested but documented in court proceedings.