Cosa Nostra

[koh-zuh nohs-truh] / ˈkoʊ zə ˈnoʊs trə /

NOUN

the mafia

Synonyms

WEAK

Black Hand Mafia gangdom gangland mob organized crime organized crime family rackets syndicate the Syndicate the mob the underworld underworld

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He had persuaded the F.B.I. to stop using the terms Mafia and Cosa Nostra in its news releases.

From New York Times • May 30, 2024

Former FBI Director James Comey described his first meeting with Trump, in which he demanded loyalty, as feeling “like Sammy the Bull’s Cosa Nostra induction ceremony.”

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2024

Prosecutors had hoped in vain he would collaborate with them and reveal Cosa Nostra secrets.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2023

The arrest of Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro deals a powerful blow to the mythology of the Cosa Nostra, toppling a symbol of the group's resistance to police efforts to break up organised crime.

From Reuters • Jan. 17, 2023

University of Essex criminology professor Anna Sergi told the BBC it was doubtful Cosa Nostra could survive without its mythological boss, who had become the symbol of the Mafia's resilience.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2023