Mafia

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Definition

Noun 1. A powerful, secretive criminal organization: A large, highly organized, and hierarchical group involved in illegal activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, and violence, often operating with a code of silence (omertà). 2. A closed and influential group: Any tightly-knit, exclusive group of people perceived to wield significant, often covert, power or influence within a particular field or sphere.

Examples of Usage
  • Noun (Criminal Organization):
    • The mafia controlled the port through a system of intimidation and bribes.
    • He was a key informant who helped the police dismantle the local mafia family.
  • Noun (Influential Group):
    • The old-boy network at the company operates like a corporate mafia.
    • She accused the literary mafia of ignoring new and innovative writers.
Advanced Usage
  • "The Mafia" (with capital 'M'): Specifically refers to the original Sicilian criminal society or its major established branches, such as the American Cosa Nostra.
    • The film "The Godfather" is a fictional portrayal of an American Mafia family.
  • "Mafia state": A term used to describe a country where the government and state institutions are extensively involved in or controlled by organized crime.
    • Analysts described the regime as a kleptocratic mafia state.
Variants and Related Words
  • Mafioso (noun): A member of the Mafia.
    • The convicted mafioso refused to testify.
  • Mafia-like (adjective): Having characteristics resembling those of the Mafia, such as secrecy, loyalty, and criminal methods.
    • The gang operated with a mafia-like structure.
Synonyms
  • Cosa Nostra: The name used by members for the Sicilian-American Mafia.
  • The Mob: A common informal term for organized crime syndicates, especially in the US.
  • Syndicate: A formal term for a group of individuals or organizations combined to promote a common interest, often used for criminal enterprises.
  • Cartel: An association of independent entities formed to limit competition, often used for large-scale drug trafficking organizations.
Related Phrases
  • Organized crime: The broader category of large-scale, structured criminal enterprises to which the mafia belongs.
    • The unit specializes in combating international organized crime.
  • Code of silence (Omertà): The strict code of secrecy and non-cooperation with authorities, central to mafia culture.
    • Witnesses were afraid to speak, bound by a powerful code of silence.
Related Idioms
  • An offer you can't refuse: A phrase popularized by mafia fiction, meaning a proposal made with an implicit threat of severe consequences for refusal.
    • The partnership proposal felt like an offer I couldn't refuse.
Noun
  1. any tightly knit group of trusted associates
  2. a secret terrorist group in Sicily; originally opposed tyranny but evolved into a criminal organization in the middle of the 19th century
  3. a crime syndicate in the United States; organized in families; believed to have important relations to the Sicilian Mafia

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