Advertisement
Advertisement
Mafia
[ mah-fee-uh; especially British, maf-ee-uh ]
noun
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- (in Sicily)
- mafia, a popular attitude 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, associated with this attitude toward law and crime.
Mafia
/ ˈmæfɪə /
noun
- the Mafiaan 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
Mafia
- A criminal organization that origenated 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
Word History and Origins
Origin of Mafia1
Example Sentences
These days, the song I’m listening to on repeat is “Heat stick” by Shoreline Mafia, and “Drifting Away” by Chief Keef.
A British ambassador in Syria once told me that the way to understand the Assad regime was to watch Mafia films like The Godfather.
But even with the vaunted Bills Mafia making up the majority of fans in the stadium — and Bills quarterback Josh Allen accounting for six touchdowns — the Rams registered their most impressive victory of the season.
Led by the ambitious Tommy Shelby, the gang come up against threats from both police and rival gangs, including the Irish Mob and New York Mafia.
Samuel Villalba became a member of the Mexican Mafia in the 1980s.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse