Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A sudden attempt by a group to overthrow a government.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A coup; an illegal effort to forcibly overthrow the current government.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[German, from German dialectal, from Middle High German, thrust, of imitative origin.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From German Putsch, from Alemannic German.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word putsch.

Examples

  • In an exclusive interview with NewsMax, the Lebanese-born Phares likens the current Hezbollah offensive in Lebanon to a "putsch" -- with the convoluted aims of reestablishing a pro-Syrian-Iranian regime in Lebanon, reconstructing a third wing to the Tehran-Damascus axis, reanimating the Arab-Israeli conflict, rejuvenating Syrian dominance, isolating Jordan, reaching out to Hamas, crumbling Iraq, and unleashing Iran's nuclear programs.

    Archive 2006-08-01 Yael K 2006

  • In an exclusive interview with NewsMax, the Lebanese-born Phares likens the current Hezbollah offensive in Lebanon to a "putsch" -- with the convoluted aims of reestablishing a pro-Syrian-Iranian regime in Lebanon, reconstructing a third wing to the Tehran-Damascus axis, reanimating the Arab-Israeli conflict, rejuvenating Syrian dominance, isolating Jordan, reaching out to Hamas, crumbling Iraq, and unleashing Iran's nuclear programs.

    Walid Phares warns UN has created "mother of all world threats since Hitler" Yael K 2006

  • This is a matter of serious concern, because with the United States supporting the coup by validating the elections that followed [5], putschist forces the world over are once again thinking that a putsch is a reasonable option.

    Recent articles from SocialistWorker.org Marga Tojo Gonzales 2010

  • As for Florida, why shouldn't the State that screwed the pooch (or is it "putsch" since they're good at having elections stolen down there), pay for it's won mistake?

    Source: Obama Tells Donors That Losing Pennsylvania By Less Than 10 Points Will Be "Victory" 2009

  • The "putsch" has clearly failed for the moment, and the fault has been clearly set at the feet of Dion, who's performance with a badly produced taped speech may have convinced Ms. Jean that sticking with Harper was a legitimate gambit.

    Eric Lurio: Harper's "Time Out" 2009

  • No support to Liberal-NDP coalition! yahooBuzzArticleHeadline = 'Canada\'s "putsch": Oppose Conservative power-grab!

    Canada's "putsch": Oppose Conservative power-grab! No support to Liberal-NDP coalition! 2008

  • OpEdNews - Article: Canada's "putsch": Oppose Conservative power-grab!

    Canada's "putsch": Oppose Conservative power-grab! No support to Liberal-NDP coalition! 2008

  • The Conservatives, who won the votes of barely one in five Canadians in the federal election held October 14, are accusing the opposition parties of attempting a "putsch" and thwarting the will of the electorate.

    Canada's "putsch": Oppose Conservative power-grab! No support to Liberal-NDP coalition! 2008

  • I even used the word "putsch" (which oddly is the word of the day from www. m-w.com).

    whirling dervish Dean Francis Alfar 2004

  • I even used the word "putsch" (which oddly is the word of the day from www. m-w.com).

    Archive 2004-07-01 Dean Francis Alfar 2004

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.