Mafia

noun

Ma·​fia ˈmä-fē-ə 

ˈma-

1

a

: a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy

b

: a similarly conceived criminal organization in the U.S.

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

Synonyms

• gang
• syndicate
• conspiracy
• mob
• clan
• network

Examples of Mafia in a Sentence

a member of the Mafia

He's an important figure in the television mafia.

Recent Examples on the Web

The series follows the Black Mafia Family in Detroit and is based on a true story. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025

On the surface, the crime drama follows the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family — one of the most influential crime families in the country. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025

Russia fit this category in the 1990s, when oligarchs and Mafia groups seized the opportunity of post-Soviet privatization to take control of several business and government sectors. —Michael Johnston, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025

Finalists older than 20 are Blood Moon Mafia, Jupiter Rock Farm, Leave it to Us and The Marina Effect. —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing Mafia

• the Mafia

Kids Definition

Mafia

noun

Ma·​fia ˈmäf-ē-ə 

ˈmaf-

1

: a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy

2

: a similar criminal organization in the U.S. or elsewhere

Geographical Definition

Mafia

geographical name

Ma·​fia ˈmä-fē-ə 

ˈma-

island of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean south of Zanzibar area 170 square miles (442 square kilometers), population 16,748