consigliere

American  

[kawn-see-lye-re] / ˌkɔn siˈlyɛ rɛ /

noun

Italian.

plural

consiglieri

1. a member of a criminal organization or syndicate who serves as an adviser to the leader.

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consigliere British  

/ ˌkɒnsɪglɪˈɛərɪ /

noun

1. a trusted adviser, esp in a criminal organization

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Etymology

Origin of consigliere

Italian, from Latin consiliārius , from consilium advice

Explanation

In the mafia, a consigliere is a trusted confidant. You can also use the word to describe someone you can count on to keep your secrets and give really good advice. If your best friend is incredibly wise and loyal, she's your consigliere — your advisor and counselor. In organized crime, a consigliere functions the same way, as a trusted, high-ranking member of the crime family. A mafia boss relies on his consigliere the way you rely on your BFF. Consigliere is an Italian word meaning "advisor," from the Latin root consilium, "advice."

Example Sentences

Sure enough, the man who played the Consigliere in The Godfather pulled up in a car with blacked out windows and shared a few minutes with me.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Between 1758 and 1763, the place was visited by Winckelmann, who wrote long letters in Italian, describing what he saw, to Consigliere Bianconi, Physician to the King of Saxony.

From The Care of Books by Clark, John Willis