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
Each of the 18 were members of Zoe Mafia Family (ZMF), a South Florida Haitian gang; a group known as the 3rd World gang; and multiple different sects of the national Bloods gang, prosecutors said in a news release.
—
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
The three-day festival will feature an eclectic lineup of artists including Wallen, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Riley Green, Three 6 Mafia, Wiz Khalifa, Ella Langley, Treaty Oak Revival and more.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 May 2025
Among the films released under his watch were Trumbo (2015), Beasts of No Nation (2015), Danny Collins (2015), Elvis & Nixon (2016), Eye in the Sky (2016), Logan Lucky (2017), Hotel Mumbai (2018) and, more recently, the 2023 releases Golda, One Life, What Happens Later and Mafia Mamma.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2025
The first episode of Season 2 delves into the Pagan Biker Gang, and the rest of the season will unpack organizations like Fresno Bulldogs, Nuestra Familia, Black Mafia Family, Vagos and Aryan Sisters of Texas.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
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Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
The three-day festival will feature an eclectic lineup of artists including Wallen, Brooks & Dunn, HARDY, Riley Green, Three 6 Mafia, Wiz Khalifa, Ella Langley, Treaty Oak Revival and more.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 May 2025
Among the films released under his watch were Trumbo (2015), Beasts of No Nation (2015), Danny Collins (2015), Elvis & Nixon (2016), Eye in the Sky (2016), Logan Lucky (2017), Hotel Mumbai (2018) and, more recently, the 2023 releases Golda, One Life, What Happens Later and Mafia Mamma.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2025
The first episode of Season 2 delves into the Pagan Biker Gang, and the rest of the season will unpack organizations like Fresno Bulldogs, Nuestra Familia, Black Mafia Family, Vagos and Aryan Sisters of Texas.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mafia. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Mafia
noun
Ma·fia
ˈmäf-ē-ə 
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
ˈma-
island of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean south of Zanzibar area 170 square miles (442 square kilometers), population 16,748
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