coup de grâce

UK: /ku də ɡrɑs/ US: /ˌku də ˈgrɑs/ ,(ko̅o̅d^ə gräs′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

coup de grâce /ˌku də ˈgrɑs/   n. [countable] , pl. coups de grâce

/ˌku də ˈgrɑs/.  
1. Foreign Terms a death blow, esp. one to end suffering:
   The veterinarian applied the coup de grâce to the badly injured horse.
2. Foreign Terms any finishing or decisive act, move, or stroke:
   The coup de grâce was the winning goal in the last minute of play.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

coup de grâce  (ko̅o̅d^ə gräs′), pl. coups de grâce (ko̅o̅d^ə gräs′). [French.]

1. a death blow, esp. one delivered mercifully to end suffering.
2. any finishing or decisive stroke.

• literally, blow of mercy

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

coup de grâce / ku də ɡrɑs/ noun ( coups de grâce / ku də ɡrɑs/)

1. a mortal or finishing blow, esp one delivered as an act of mercy to a sufferer
2. a final or decisive stroke

Etymology: literally: blow of mercy