mafia

Meaning

1. A hierarchically structured secret organisation engaged in illegal activities like distribution of narcotics, gambling and extortion.
2. A crime syndicate.
3. A trusted group of associates, as of a political leader.
4. An entity which attempts to control a specified arena by violence or threats.

Synonyms

maffia

mob

organized crime

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɑfi.ə/

Etymology

See Mafia. The sense "entity which attempts to control a specified arena" makes an analogy to crime-syndicate mafias' attempts to control certain kinds of business in the regions in which they exist.