putsch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, historical, political
Quick answer
What does “putsch” mean?
A sudden, violent, and illegal attempt by a small group to seize control of a government.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden, violent, and illegal attempt by a small group to seize control of a government.
Any sudden, forceful attempt to overthrow an established authority, leadership, or power structure, not necessarily governmental.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. The term is used identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word carries strong historical and political connotations, often evoking specific 20th-century European events like the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialist in both dialects, found primarily in historical, political, and journalistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “putsch” in a Sentence
[Subject] staged a putsch.The putsch [verb] succeeded/failed.A putsch against [Authority].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “putsch” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Dissident generals plotted to putsch the regime but were discovered.
- (Note: 'putsch' as a verb is extremely rare and non-standard)
American English
- (The verb form is virtually unused in standard English.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form exists.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form exists.)
adjective
British English
- The putsch leaders were swiftly arrested.
- (Note: Used only attributively, e.g., 'putsch attempt', 'putsch plot')
American English
- He was a key figure in the putsch conspiracy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used literally; metaphorically for a sudden, forceful takeover of a company's leadership (e.g., 'a boardroom putsch').
Academic
Used in history, political science, and international relations to describe specific violent seizures of power.
Everyday
Very rare; would be used only when discussing history or dramatic political news.
Technical
Not a technical term outside of historical/political analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “putsch”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “putsch”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “putsch”
- Pronouncing it as /pʌtʃ/ (like 'butch'). Correct is /pʊtʃ/ (like 'book').
- Using it for any large-scale popular revolution.
- Confusing it with 'purge'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from Swiss German 'Putsch', meaning 'thrust, blow', or 'revolt'. It entered English after being used for various Swiss uprisings and notably the 1923 Munich 'Beer Hall Putsch'.
A putsch is a swift, secretive act by a small faction (often military) to seize the levers of power. A revolution is typically a broader, mass movement aimed at fundamentally transforming society and its structures.
Yes, but only metaphorically. It is sometimes used in business or organizational contexts to describe a sudden, forceful, and often clandestine change in leadership (e.g., 'a boardroom putsch').
Essentially yes. 'Putsch' is a more specific, historically loaded synonym for 'coup' or 'coup d'état'. 'Coup' is the more common and general term in modern English.
A sudden, violent, and illegal attempt by a small group to seize control of a government.
Putsch is usually formal, historical, political in register.
Putsch: in British English it is pronounced /pʊtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /pʊtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “palace putsch (a coup from within the ruling elite)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'PUSH' violently to take power – a PUTSCH is a violent PUSH against a government.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL CHANGE IS A SUDDEN PHYSICAL BLOW / A MUTINY IS A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE (to 'stage' a putsch).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of a 'putsch'?