Mafia

or Maf·fi·a

[ mah-fee-uh, maf-ee-uh ]

/ ˈmɑ fi ə, ˈmæf i ə /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR Mafia ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a hierarchically structured secret organization allegedly engaged in smuggling, racketeering, trafficking in narcotics, and other criminal activities in the U.S., Italy, and elsewhere.

(in Sicily)

(lowercase) a popular spirit of hostility to legal restraint and to the law, often manifesting itself in criminal acts.
a 19th-century secret society, similar to the Camorra in Naples, that acted in this spirit.

(often lowercase) any small powerful or influential group in an organization or field; clique.

Origin of Mafia

1870–75; <Italian <Sicilian: originally, elegance, bravura, courage; of obscure origin; the word's history prior to the 19th century is unknown, though many fictitious ideas have circulated regarding its age, source, etc., due to the organization's modern notoriety

Words nearby Mafia

MAF, Mafeking, mafenide, MAFF, maffick, Mafia, mafic, Mafikeng, mafioso, mafted, maftir

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for Mafia

Like the Mafia Dons of old, they will be brought down by the IRS for their financial crimes.
My Dad served in WWII — he was a hero, not a loser|Peter Rosenstein|September 10, 2020|Washington Blade
For those who have forgotten their Mafia history, that’s the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
When Did Gavin McInnes Lose His Mind?|Eugene Robinson|September 6, 2020|Ozy
In the Latino community the legacy of the Mexican Mafia spans multiple generations.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Mexican Mafia run their empire from the penitentiary to the streets of LA.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Much like the TV show Breaking Bad, the Mexican Mafia are real life methamphetamine kingpins.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As described by its inventor, there is an Honest team and a Mafia team that compete against each other.
Where Chechens Go to Escape Their Surreal Past—and Risky Present|Anna Nemtsova|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, on the contrary, only a fraction of this country, a part which I would call the best of Italy, is against the Mafia.
Days of Mafia Mayhem Are Wracking Italy Once Again|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, the Mafia, which is a world-wide blood brotherhood with colonies in every land and clime, has a universal language.
Mars Confidential|Jack Lait
One spring night it was Mafia's watch until midnight, at which time Brinnaria was to relieve her.
The Unwilling Vestal|Edward Lucas White
And on Earth, the Mafia, which is another international conspiracy like the Communists, sells the narcotics.
Mars Confidential|Jack Lait
I inquired, not quite knowing the ramifications of the Mafia.
The Barrel Mystery|William J. (William James) Flynn
In an organized form the Mafia survives only in isolated districts.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Mafia

Mafia

Maffia

/ (ˈmæfɪə) /

noun

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

any group considered to resemble the MafiaSee also Black Hand, Camorra, Cosa Nostra

Word Origin for Mafia

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Mafia

Mafia

[ (mah-fee-uh) ]

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.

单词	mafia
释义	Mafia or Maf·fi·a [ mah-fee-uh, maf-ee-uh ] / ˈmɑ fi ə, ˈmæf i ə / SEE SYNONYMS FOR Mafia ON THESAURUS.COM noun a hierarchically structured secret organization allegedly engaged in smuggling, racketeering, trafficking in narcotics, and other criminal activities in the U.S., Italy, and elsewhere. (in Sicily) (lowercase) a popular spirit of hostility to legal restraint and to the law, often manifesting itself in criminal acts. a 19th-century secret society, similar to the Camorra in Naples, that acted in this spirit. (often lowercase) any small powerful or influential group in an organization or field; clique. Origin of Mafia 1870–75; <Italian <Sicilian: originally, elegance, bravura, courage; of obscure origin; the word's history prior to the 19th century is unknown, though many fictitious ideas have circulated regarding its age, source, etc., due to the organization's modern notoriety Words nearby Mafia MAF, Mafeking, mafenide, MAFF, maffick, Mafia, mafic, Mafikeng, mafioso, mafted, maftir Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for Mafia Like the Mafia Dons of old, they will be brought down by the IRS for their financial crimes. My Dad served in WWII — he was a hero, not a loser\|Peter Rosenstein\|September 10, 2020\|Washington Blade For those who have forgotten their Mafia history, that’s the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. When Did Gavin McInnes Lose His Mind?\|Eugene Robinson\|September 6, 2020\|Ozy In the Latino community the legacy of the Mexican Mafia spans multiple generations. The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs\|Seth Ferranti\|December 11, 2014\|DAILY BEAST The Mexican Mafia run their empire from the penitentiary to the streets of LA. The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs\|Seth Ferranti\|December 11, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Much like the TV show Breaking Bad, the Mexican Mafia are real life methamphetamine kingpins. The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs\|Seth Ferranti\|December 11, 2014\|DAILY BEAST As described by its inventor, there is an Honest team and a Mafia team that compete against each other. Where Chechens Go to Escape Their Surreal Past—and Risky Present\|Anna Nemtsova\|December 9, 2014\|DAILY BEAST No, on the contrary, only a fraction of this country, a part which I would call the best of Italy, is against the Mafia. Days of Mafia Mayhem Are Wracking Italy Once Again\|Barbie Latza Nadeau\|November 22, 2014\|DAILY BEAST However, the Mafia, which is a world-wide blood brotherhood with colonies in every land and clime, has a universal language. Mars Confidential\|Jack Lait One spring night it was Mafia's watch until midnight, at which time Brinnaria was to relieve her. The Unwilling Vestal\|Edward Lucas White And on Earth, the Mafia, which is another international conspiracy like the Communists, sells the narcotics. Mars Confidential\|Jack Lait I inquired, not quite knowing the ramifications of the Mafia. The Barrel Mystery\|William J. (William James) Flynn In an organized form the Mafia survives only in isolated districts. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 3\|Various British Dictionary definitions for Mafia Mafia Maffia / (ˈmæfɪə) / noun 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 any group considered to resemble the MafiaSee also Black Hand, Camorra, Cosa Nostra Word Origin for Mafia C19: from Sicilian dialect of Italian, literally hostility to the law, boldness, perhaps from Arabic mahyah bragging Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Cultural definitions for Mafia Mafia [ (mah-fee-uh) ] 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. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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