A coup de grâce (/ˌkuː də ˈɡrɑːs/; French: [ku də ɡʁɑs] ⓘ 'blow of mercy') is a death blow to end the suffering of a severely wounded person or animal.
[1][2] It may be a mercy killing of mortally wounded civilians or soldiers, friends or enemies, with or without the sufferer's consent.
The meaning has extended to refer to the final event that causes a figurative death.
[2] Today, a coup de grâce for incapacitated soldiers would be a war crime: the laws of war mandate caring for the incapacitated and prohibit mercy killing.
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