Main Entry: Ma·fia

Pronunciation: \ˈmä-fē-ə, ˈma-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Mafia, Maffia, a Sicilian secret criminal society, from Italian dial. (Sicily), probably from mafiusu

Date: 1875

1 a : a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy b : a similarly conceived criminal organization in the United States; also : a similar organization elsewhere <the Japanese Mafia> c : a criminal organization associated with a particular traffic <the cocaine Mafia>
2 often not capitalized : a group of people likened to the Mafia; especially : a group of people of similar interests or backgrounds prominent in a particular field or enterprise : clique