Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Language: Italian
Origin: Italian dialect, 'great confidence, proud talk'

mafia

 noun
     
maf‧i‧a
1

the Mafia

SCC a large organized group of criminals who control many illegal activities, especially in Italy and the US
2 [singular] a powerful group of people within an organization or profession who support and protect each other:
the medical mafia
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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