Mafia or Maffia /mäˈfē-ə/

1. A spirit of opposition to the law in Sicily, hence a preference for private and unofficial rather than legal justice
2. A secret criminal society originating in Sicily, controlling many illegal activities, eg gambling, narcotics, etc, in many parts of the world, and particularly active in the USA (also called Cosa Nostra)
3. (also without cap) any group considered to be like the Mafia in the criminal and unscrupulous use of power, fear, etc to gain its ends

Mafioso /-fē-ōˈsō, -zō/ noun (pl Mafiosi /-sē, -zē/)

A member of the Mafia (also without cap and as adjective)

• heterotypic
• heterousian
• heterousians
• heterozygosities
• heterozygosity
• heterozygote
• heterozygotes
• heterozygous
• hetes
• hether
• hetherward
• heting
• hetman
• hetmanate
• hetmanates
• hetmans
• hetmanship
• hetmanships
• hets
• het up
• heuch
• heuchera
• heucheras
• heuchs
• heugh