omertà

[ aw-mer-tah; English oh-mer-tuh ]

/ ˌɔ mɛrˈtɑ; English oʊˈmɛr tə /

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noun Italian.

secrecy sworn to by oath; code of silence.

QUIZ

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Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

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Words nearby omertà

omentorrhaphy, omentulum, omentum, omeprazole, omer, omertà, OMG, omicron, omigod, ominous, omissible

How to use omertà in a sentence

An evil act of intimidation like the Mafia uses is more likely, but this goes against the culture of the ‘omerta’.
Vendetta in the Vineyard: Cult Brunello Producer Loses All His Wine|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
This is because the elite officers who comprise the secret SEAL Team Six practice a Mafia-like code of Omerta.
Will ‘No Easy Day’ Book on Bin Laden Raid Break SEALs Code of Silence?|Eli Lake|August 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Like the papacy, there appeared to be a code of omerta and patriarchy.
Penn State's Joe Paterno and a Veil of Secrecy|Jacob Bernstein, Jessica Bennett|November 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The reader will observe how the silence of "the man of honor" is not remotely associated with the Omerta.
Courts and Criminals|Arthur Train

Out of this feeling grew the "Omerta," which paralyzes the arm of justice both in Naples and Sicily.
Courts and Criminals|Arthur Train
You received the kiss upon both cheeks, you accepted the salutation on the brow, you took the oath of the Omerta!
"Persons Unknown"|Virginia Tracy
In point of fact, however, the "Omerta" is not confined to Italians.
Courts and Criminals|Arthur Train

British Dictionary definitions for omertà

omertà

/ Italian (omerˈta) /

noun

a conspiracy of silence

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012