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Definition of mafia

mafia

/ˈmɑːfiə/
ma · fi · a
Plural:mafias
•
Adjective:mafioso
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mafia Lexical Profile

mafia Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A hierarchical, secretive organized crime syndicate originating in Sicily and operating internationally (especially in Italy and the United States), or any similar national or regional criminal network that enforces its control through extortion, intimidation, and illicit enterprise.

Example

"Federal prosecutors spent years investigating how the local mafia infiltrated the city's waste management contracts."

2

An exclusive, tightly knit clique or group of insiders perceived as exercising clannish, disproportionate, or secretive influence within a particular profession, industry, or institution.

Example

"Critics complained that a powerful literary mafia controlled which debut novels received major award nominations."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mafia

• Nearby Words

mae ya
maelstrom
maestro
mafia
mafioso
mag
maga

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-19th century from Sicilian 'mafia', originally meaning 'boldness, bravado, or swagger', likely traced to Arabic 'mahyas' ('aggressive boasting'). It gained international currency after the 1863 Sicilian play 'I mafiusi di la Vicaria' popularized the term for prison gangs and secret criminal fraternities.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mafia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mafia
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