junta
junta Lexical Profile
junta Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.
"Following the sudden coup, a governing junta suspended the constitution and imposed an overnight curfew."
A deliberative or administrative council or committee, especially in Spain, Portugal, or Latin America.
"In the early nineteenth century, the regional junta convened in Seville to coordinate local governance and administrative affairs."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although pronounced either with an English 'j' (/ˈdʒʌntə/) or a Spanish 'h' (/ˈhʊntə/), it is distinct from the closely related word 'junto', which typically refers to a secret political faction or cabal rather than a ruling military regime.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from Spanish 'junta' (meaning 'meeting' or 'council'), derived from the Latin 'iuncta', the feminine past participle of 'iungere' ('to join').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.