Cosa Nostra

American  

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

noun

1. a secret association engaged in organized crime in the U.S., modeled after and affiliated with the Mafia.

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Cosa Nostra British  

/ ˈkəʊsə ˈnɒstrə /

noun

1. the branch of the Mafia that operates in the US

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Etymology

Origin of Cosa Nostra

1960–65; < Italian: literally, our affair

Example Sentences

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

The finding comes after Italy's largest agricultural trade group, Coldiretti, condemned the Cosa Nostra product for associating itself with the Sicilian mafia.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2023

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

Instead Cosa Nostra is lying low, opting to “co-penetrate the social and economic fabric” of Italy, Melillo said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 17, 2023