Mafia

[ mah-fee-uh; especially British, maf-ee-uh ]

noun

1. the Mafia, a hierarchically structured secret organization allegedly engaged in smuggling, racketeering, trafficking in narcotics, and other criminal activities in the United States, Italy, and elsewhere.
2. Usually mafia. any criminal organization viewed as similar to the Mafia:

   The movie concerns a low-life gambler who borrows money from the French mafia for a seat at a high-stakes poker game.

3. Often mafia. any small but powerful or influential group in an organization or field; an inordinately prominent and controlling clique:

   It was difficult to be the only woman involved in this macho, musical mafia.

4. (in Sicily)
   1. mafia, a popular attitude of hostility to legal restraint and to the law, often manifesting itself in criminal acts.
   2. a 19th-century secret society, similar to the Camorra in Naples, associated with this attitude toward law and crime.

Mafia

/ ˈmæfɪə /

noun

1. the Mafia
   an international secret organization founded in Sicily, probably in opposition to tyranny. It developed into a criminal organization and in the late 19th century was carried to the US by Italian immigrants
2. any group considered to resemble the Mafia See also Black Hand Camorra Cosa Nostra

Mafia

1. A criminal organization that originated in Sicily and was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants in the late nineteenth century. The Mafia is also called the Syndicate, the Mob, and the Cosa Nostra (Our Thing). The Mafia built its power through extortion (forcing tradesmen and shopkeepers to buy Mafia protection against destruction) and by dominating the bootlegging industry (the illegal production and distribution of liquor) during Prohibition . Members of the Mafia often lead outwardly respectable lives and maintain a variety of legitimate businesses as a front, or cover, for their criminal activities, which include extortion, gambling, and narcotics distribution.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mafia¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from Italian, earlier maffia “arrogance” (in Sicilian: “bravery, excellence”), apparently a back formation from mafiuso mafioso ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mafia¹

C19: from Sicilian dialect of Italian, literally hostility to the law, boldness, perhaps from Arabic mahyah bragging

Example Sentences

The case stems from a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles alleging that the unit was run by a “SWAT Mafia” of influential veteran cops who “glamorize the use of lethal force.”

From Los Angeles Times

One said they had previously worked undercover investigating the Mexican Mafia, and claimed they learned last year about a potential threat against them and them and their wife.

From Los Angeles Times

“Whether you’re actually in the Mafia or not, hiring the mob to assault someone because of your marital problems is abhorrent. Covering up the role you played only makes it worse,” U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Martinez described himself in court as an associate of the Mexican Mafia.

From Los Angeles Times

A lawyer accused of helping members of the Mexican Mafia traffic drugs, collect extortion money and expose government informants pleaded guilty Thursday in a deal with prosecutors that may spare him prison time.

From Los Angeles Times