mafioso

[ mah-fee-oh-soh ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

, plural ma·fi·o·si [mah-fee-, oh, -see], ma·fi·o·sos.

1. a member of a Mafia or of a mafia.

mafioso

/ ˌmæfɪˈəʊsəʊ; mafiˈoso /

noun

1. a person belonging to the Mafia

Word History and Origins

Origin of mafioso¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from Sicilian mafiusu “arrogance, bravado,” of disputed origin; perhaps ultimately from Arabic marfūḍ “outcast” (compare archaic Italian malfusso “wretched,” archaic Spanish marfuz “deceitful, rejected”); perhaps ultimately from Arabic mahyāṣ “braggart, show-off”

Example Sentences

It is a well known brand popular with politicians and Mafiosi, costs thousands of dollars and is hideously, pugnaciously ugly.

From Washington Post

Since the mid-19th century, Sicily has been known as a hive of Mafioso activity.

From The Daily Beast

But one can hardly blame a young Mafioso for laying claim to what is essentially the holy grail of Mafia hits.

From The Daily Beast

It will likely take more than a threat from Rome to change the mindset of a mafioso.

From The Daily Beast

But a Mafioso such as Willie the Rat would have taken that as the good news by comparison when he heard the rest.

From The Daily Beast

He has the mentality of a Mafioso and not someone who has the mind of an ideological fighter.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes this capo-mafioso is a villain who glories in a record of crime, a brow-beating bully who will p. 164stick at nothing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bandit
• criminal
• crook
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• mobster
• racketeer
• robber
• soldier
• thug