mafioso

noun

ma·​fi·​o·​so ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sō 

ˌma-,

-(ˌ)zō

plural mafiosi ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sē 

ˌma-,

-(ˌ)zē

: a member of the Mafia or a mafia

Examples of mafioso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Using his powers, Stanley must save his love interest Tina Carlyle (Diaz, 52) from mafioso Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene) while evading law enforcement. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024

Ostensibly, Fulmer was Tennessee's AD during that time, but that was about as genuine as a mafioso's olive oil business. —Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 28 Mar. 2024

The top mafioso, convicted of masterminding some of Italy’s most heinous slayings — including the killings of prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino — subsequently died in September of last year in a maximum-security prison. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Sep. 2024

Lilyhammer a fish-out-of-water series set in Lillehammer, Norway featuring ex-Sopranos star Steven Van Zandt as a mafioso on witness protection was the streamer’s first entry into the original series business. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Italian dialect (Sicily) mafiusu gallant, swaggerer, perhaps alteration of marfusu scoundrel

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mafioso

noun

ma·​fi·​o·​so ˌmäf-ē-ˈō-sō 

ˌmaf-,

-zō

plural mafiosi -sē 

-zē

: a member of the Mafia