mafioso

noun

ma·​fi·​o·​so ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sō 

ˌma-,

-(ˌ)zō

plural mafiosi ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sē 

ˌma-,

-(ˌ)zē

: a member of the Mafia or a mafia

Examples of mafioso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The top mafioso, convicted of masterminding some of Italy’s most heinous slayings — including the killings of prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino — subsequently died in September of last year in a maximum-security prison. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Sep. 2024

Lilyhammer a fish-out-of-water series set in Lillehammer, Norway featuring ex-Sopranos star Steven Van Zandt as a mafioso on witness protection was the streamer’s first entry into the original series business. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Sep. 2024

But when Oz delivers his old ring—pinched from Alberto’s corpse—the mafioso is taken off guard. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024

Don Cheadle co-stars as J.D. Hudson, one of the first Black detectives in Atlanta’s police force, who was also part of Ali’s security detail; Samuel L. Jackson as Atlanta crime boss Frank Moten; Terrence Howard as Jersey mafioso Cadillac Richie; and Taraji P. Henson as a mistress to Chicken Man. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Italian dialect (Sicily) mafiusu gallant, swaggerer, perhaps alteration of marfusu scoundrel

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mafioso

noun

ma·​fi·​o·​so ˌmäf-ē-ˈō-sō 

ˌmaf-,

-zō

plural mafiosi -sē 

-zē

: a member of the Mafia