Mafia

n.

1.

see maffia, maffioso.

Noun	1.	Mafia - a crime syndicate in the United States; organized in families; believed to have important relations to the Sicilian Mafia Synonyms: Cosa Nostra, Maffia
	2.	Mafia - a secret terrorist group in Sicily; originally opposed tyranny but evolved into a criminal organization in the middle of the 19th century Synonyms: Sicilian Mafia, Maffia
	3.	mafia - any tightly knit group of trusted associates Synonyms: maffia

Black Hand, Cosa Nostra, black market, bootlegging, gambling, gangdom, gangland, gray market, illegal commerce, illegal operations, illegitimate business, illicit business, loan-sharking, moonshining, narcotics traffic, organized crime, prostitution, protection racket, racket, shady dealings, the Mafia, the mob, the rackets, the syndicate, the underworld, traffic in women, usury, white slavery