caporegime: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Low Frequency)Formal / Specialized (Criminology, Journalism, Historical, Organized Crime Fiction)
Quick answer
What does “caporegime” mean?
A high-ranking member of a Mafia crime family who heads a crew of soldiers and reports directly to the boss or underboss.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A high-ranking member of a Mafia crime family who heads a crew of soldiers and reports directly to the boss or underboss.
A lieutenant or captain in an organized crime syndicate; metaphorically, a senior lieutenant or trusted subordinate in any hierarchical, often clandestine, organization.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is borrowed from Italian-American organized crime and is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of organized crime, hierarchy, violence, and illicit power structures. No positive connotations in standard usage.
Frequency
Marginally more frequent in American English due to the term's origin in the context of the American Mafia, but remains extremely rare in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “caporegime” in a Sentence
[Caporegime] of [the Gambino family][Boss] appointed [him] as [caporegime][He] rose to the rank of [caporegime]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; only metaphorically to describe a ruthless or highly trusted department head in a cut-throat corporate environment (e.g., 'He was the CEO's caporegime, handling all the difficult layoffs').
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or criminological texts discussing the structure of organized crime.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A specific term in the lexicon of law enforcement and organized crime studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “caporegime”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “caporegime”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “caporegime”
- Pronouncing it as 'cap-oh-rej-eem'. The 'g' is soft as in 'regime'.
- Using it as a general term for any gangster.
- Misspelling as 'caporegima', 'caporegeem', or 'caporegime'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An underboss is the second-in-command of the entire family, directly below the boss. A caporegime (or captain) ranks below the underboss and commands a smaller group of soldiers (a 'crew').
Only as a deliberate, metaphorical comparison, often to imply a rigid, secretive, or ruthless hierarchy (e.g., in corporate or political satire). Its primary and almost exclusive meaning is within organized crime.
'Capo' is the common shortened form of 'caporegime'. They are synonyms, though 'caporegime' is the full formal title.
It is an Italian-American adaptation of the Italian words 'capo' (head, chief) and 'regime' (regimen, rule, system). It literally means 'head of a regime' or 'chief of a section'.
A high-ranking member of a Mafia crime family who heads a crew of soldiers and reports directly to the boss or underboss.
Caporegime is usually formal / specialized (criminology, journalism, historical, organized crime fiction) in register.
Caporegime: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæpəʊrəˈdʒiːmeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæpoʊrəˈdʒimeɪ/ or /ˌkɑːpoʊrəˈdʒimeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be made a caporegime”
- “A caporegime's crew”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a corporate 'CAPtain' who 'REGIMEs' (rules over) a team, but in the criminal world. CAPtain + REGIME = CAPOREGIME.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION IS A BUSINESS / CORPORATION (with bosses, captains, and soldiers).
Practice
Quiz
In the hierarchy of a traditional Mafia family, a caporegime typically reports to: