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
Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.
—
Joe Otterson, Variety, 28 May 2025
He’s collaborated with other dance heavyweights, including Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris and Armand van Helden.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 22 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
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Joe Otterson, Variety, 28 May 2025
He’s collaborated with other dance heavyweights, including Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris and Armand van Helden.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 22 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for Mafia
Cite this Entry
“Mafia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mafia. Accessed 1 Jun. 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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