First Known Use: 1875
Dictionary
Mafia
noun Ma·fia \ˈmä-fē-ə, ˈma-\
Definition of MAFIA
1
a : a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy b : a similarly conceived criminal organization in the United States; 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
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Origin of MAFIA
Mafia, Maffia, a Sicilian secret criminal society, from Italian dialect (Sicily), probably from mafiusu
Mafia
geographical name Ma·fia \ˈmä-fē-ə, ˈma-\
Definition of MAFIA
island Tanzania in Indian Ocean S of Zanzibar area 170 square miles (442 square kilometers), pop 16,748
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