A crime syndicate in the United States; organized in families; believed to have important relations to the Sicilian Mafia.

synonyms: Cosa Nostra, Mafia.

Dutch: mafia, maffia
Polish: cosa nostra

A secret terrorist group in Sicily; originally opposed tyranny but evolved into a criminal organization in the middle of the 19th century.

synonyms: Mafia, Sicilian Mafia.

Any tightly knit group of trusted associates.

synonym: mafia.

Dutch: maffia