mafioso

noun

ma·​fi·​o·​so ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sō How to pronounce mafioso (audio)
ˌma-, 
-(ˌ)zō
plural mafiosi ˌmä-fē-ˈō-(ˌ)sē How to pronounce mafioso (audio)
ˌma-, 
-(ˌ)zē
Synonyms of mafiosonext
: a member of the Mafia or a mafia

Examples of mafioso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The mafioso-style form of Carr’s threat has been widely noted. — Onkar Ghate, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025 Even as mafioso talk took hold on Views and What a Time to Be Alive, romantic melodrama seemed to be the default setting. — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 20 May 2026 The builders’ alternating harassment and bribery leaves Cook with little recourse, especially when mafioso-like representatives begin dropping by at all hours, leading to dry exchanges — what little dialogue the film has is extremely funny. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026 According to a personal spokesperson, the erstwhile PayPal mafioso sold certain investments—Amazon, Meta, Elon Musk’s xAI—to take on his unpaid role. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mafioso

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Italian dialect (Sicily) mafiusu gallant, swaggerer, perhaps alteration of marfusu scoundrel

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mafioso was in 1875

Rhymes for mafioso

See All Rhymes for mafioso

Browse Nearby Words

Mafikeng
mafioso
mafite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mafioso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mafioso. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mafioso

noun
ma·​fi·​o·​so ˌmäf-ē-ˈō-sō How to pronounce mafioso (audio)
ˌmaf-, 
-zō
plural mafiosi -sē How to pronounce mafioso (audio)
-zē
: a member of the Mafia

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