Mafia

Ma·fia

noun \ˈmä-fē-ə, ˈma-\

Definition of MAFIA

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

Origin of MAFIA

Mafia, Maffia, a Sicilian secret criminal society, from Italian dialect (Sicily), probably from mafiusu

First Known Use: 1875

Related to MAFIA

Synonyms: cabal, conspiracy, crew, gang, ¹ring, mob, syndicate

Related Words: bunch, circle, clan, clique, coterie, coven, crowd, galère, lot, network, pack, set; junta, oligarchy

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