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

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

From Seattle Times

Despite his notoriety, prosecutors have always doubted that Messina Denaro became the Mafia "boss of bosses", saying it was more likely that he was simply the head of Cosa Nostra in western Sicily.

From Reuters

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

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

From Seattle Times