Definition of Mafia
1a : a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italyb : a similarly conceived criminal organization in the U.S.; also : a similar organization elsewhere the Japanese Mafiac : 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
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Origin and Etymology of mafia
Mafia, Maffia, a Sicilian secret criminal society, from Italian dialect (Sicily), probably from mafiusu
First Known Use: 1866
Mafia
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island of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean south of Zanzibar area 170 square miles (442 square kilometers), population 16,748
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for Mafia Spanish Central: Translation of Mafia Nglish: Translation of Mafia for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Mafia
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