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

The Five Families are part of the larger American-Sicilian mafia operation known as La Cosa Nostra, which translates to "this thing of ours", and the members often work closely with their counterparts in Sicily.

From BBC

Sicily's Cosa Nostra has even started working with other gangs, including the notorious and far larger 'Ndrangheta in mainland Italy.

From BBC

They also found that Sicily's Cosa Nostra mafia have updated the practices of their "founding fathers" and no longer need to meet in person.

From BBC

He had persuaded the F.B.I. to stop using the terms Mafia and Cosa Nostra in its news releases.

From New York Times

The 'Ndrangheta is considered by prosecutors to be Italy's most powerful mafia group, easily eclipsing the more famous Cosa Nostra gang in Sicily, with its influence extending across Europe and beyond.

From Reuters