In a narrow sense, it refers to the Tobaku movement that aimed at an overthrow through the exercise of military power, but in a broad sense the meaning includes political maneuvers targeting the transfer of political power without military conflict.
狭義では、武力で倒すことを目的とした討幕運動を指すが、広義では、軍事衝突を回避した政権移譲を目指す政治工作も含めて倒幕運動と呼ぶ。