Mafia

noun

Ma·​fia ˈmä-fē-ə How to pronounce Mafia (audio)
ˈma-
1
a
: a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy
b
: a similarly conceived criminal organization in the U.S.
also : a similar organization elsewhere
the Japanese Mafia
c
: a criminal organization associated with a particular traffic
the cocaine Mafia
2
often not capitalized : a group of people likened to the Mafia
especially : a group of people of similar interests or backgrounds prominent in a particular field or enterprise : clique

Examples of Mafia in a Sentence

a member of the Mafia He's an important figure in the television mafia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The latter album, comprising new recordings of material associated with Jones, included appearances by such diverse artists as Jennifer Hudson, Amy Winehouse, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean and Three 6 Mafia. Chris Morris, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 Later, at a listening party in 2019, Ken was with 808 Mafia’s Southside when Carti emerged from the shadows—the night ended with Ken and Carti in the studio together, bonding over clothes. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2024 Trending on Billboard Alemán & Gera MX, Rich Mafia, Vol. 1. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2024 Three 6 Mafia have resumed their legal battle against $uicideboy$, again accusing the duo of stealing their music without proper credit or compensation. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Mafia 

Word History

Etymology

Mafia, Maffia, a Sicilian secret criminal society, from Italian dialect (Sicily), probably from mafiusu

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Mafia was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near Mafia

Cite this Entry

“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mafia. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Mafia

noun
Ma·​fia ˈmäf-ē-ə How to pronounce Mafia (audio)
ˈmaf-
1
: a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy
2
: a similar criminal organization in the U.S. or elsewhere

Geographical Definition

Mafia

geographical name

Ma·​fia ˈmä-fē-ə How to pronounce Mafia (audio)
ˈma-
island of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean south of Zanzibar area 170 square miles (442 square kilometers), population 16,748

More from Merriam-Webster on Mafia

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