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 say Messina Denaro was one of the leading figures in Cosa Nostra but preferred to remain in his own region and was not the "boss of bosses" like the late Salvatore "Toto" Riina.

From Reuters • Jan. 18, 2023

While Messina Denaro wielded great influence in the Mafia, for decades Cosa Nostra has lacked a supreme capo, investigators say.

From Seattle Times • 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