mafioso
noun
ma·fi·o·so ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sō 
ˌma-,
-(ˌ)zō
plural mafiosi ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sē
ˌma-,
-(ˌ)zē
: a member of the Mafia or a mafia
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Paul Sorvino could play more than a mobster, even though mafioso roles became standards in his prolific career. 
Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 The movie stars Jennifer Tilly as a mafioso’s girlfriend, and Gina Gershon as the ex-convict hired to do renovations on their apartment. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 7 June 2022 The sequel opens with Laura on her wedding day receiving a visit from her Sicilian mafioso fiancé Massimo (Michele Morrone, the human incarnation of the smoldering ruins of Rome circa AD 64) before their nuptials. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 Apr. 2022 Translation: Expect an old-school meets new-school Vegas vibe in a room packed with local Vegas power players and visiting high rollers looking for a mafioso-like trattoria cum steakhouse. Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2022 John Turturro is Carmine Falcone, a virtuoso mafioso. Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 Iran’s reluctance to negotiate is driven by Washington’s mafioso approach to diplomacy. NBC News, 29 Nov. 2021 Though Dickie never appeared on the show, he was occasionally mentioned with admiration as a wild-card mafioso of decades past. David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2021 The film follows the young mafioso as he's led into the business by his uncle, Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), the father of Christopher (Michael Imperioli on The Sopranos) and cousin of Carmela. Jolie Lash, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2021 See More
Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 The movie stars Jennifer Tilly as a mafioso’s girlfriend, and Gina Gershon as the ex-convict hired to do renovations on their apartment. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 7 June 2022 The sequel opens with Laura on her wedding day receiving a visit from her Sicilian mafioso fiancé Massimo (Michele Morrone, the human incarnation of the smoldering ruins of Rome circa AD 64) before their nuptials. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 Apr. 2022 Translation: Expect an old-school meets new-school Vegas vibe in a room packed with local Vegas power players and visiting high rollers looking for a mafioso-like trattoria cum steakhouse. Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2022 John Turturro is Carmine Falcone, a virtuoso mafioso. Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 Iran’s reluctance to negotiate is driven by Washington’s mafioso approach to diplomacy. NBC News, 29 Nov. 2021 Though Dickie never appeared on the show, he was occasionally mentioned with admiration as a wild-card mafioso of decades past. David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2021 The film follows the young mafioso as he's led into the business by his uncle, Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), the father of Christopher (Michael Imperioli on The Sopranos) and cousin of Carmela. Jolie Lash, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Italian, from Italian dialect (Sicily) mafiusu gallant, swaggerer, perhaps alteration of marfusu scoundrel
First Known Use
1875, in the meaning defined above
mafiosi
noun
as in gangsters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- gangsters
- mobsters
- hoodlums
- racketeers
- extortionists
- thugs
- blackmailers
- extortioners
- ruffians
- blackhanders
- swindlers
- button men
- bullies
- chiselers
- profiteers
- sharpers
- hustlers
- dodgers
- cheaters
- cheats
- defrauders
- gougers
- sharpies
- sharks
- cozeners
- chisellers
- double-dealers