cosa nostra: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Journalistic, Specialized
Quick answer
What does “cosa nostra” mean?
The Sicilian Mafia or Mafia-type organized crime, often understood as a secret criminal society bound by honor and silence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Sicilian Mafia or Mafia-type organized crime, often understood as a secret criminal society bound by honor and silence.
Any powerful, close-knit, and secretive organization operating on its own code, sometimes used metaphorically to describe other tight-knit, powerful groups with a hint of criminal or unethical secrecy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical; more likely to appear in American media due to historical coverage of the mafia.
Connotations
Identical strong criminal/mob connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Comparatively rare in everyday speech, but slightly more frequent in American English due to pop culture depictions (e.g., 'The Godfather').
Grammar
How to Use “cosa nostra” in a Sentence
[Proper noun subject] + [verb] (e.g., Cosa Nostra operates)[Action] + by/within Cosa NostraThe Cosa NostraVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cosa nostra” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gang was accused of trying to Cosa Nostra-ise the local trade. (rare, creative)
American English
- The syndicate's methods were pure Cosa Nostra. (as adjective-like modifier)
adjective
British English
- He was involved in Cosa Nostra activities.
American English
- They discovered a Cosa Nostra-style hierarchy within the group.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used, except metaphorically and pejoratively for secretive, controlling corporate cultures.
Academic
Used in criminology, sociology, and history papers discussing organized crime.
Everyday
Very rare; would be used in discussing crime or in metaphorical, often humorous, exaggeration.
Technical
Used as a specific term in law enforcement and criminology to denote the traditional Sicilian mafia structure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cosa nostra”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cosa nostra”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cosa nostra”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a cosa nostra' – incorrect).
- Confusing it with general 'mafia' when referring specifically to the Sicilian original.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a specific, original form of the Mafia based in Sicily. 'Mafia' can be a broader term for organized crime groups with Italian roots.
No, it is a proper noun and should be capitalized: Cosa Nostra.
Yes, but cautiously. It carries extremely negative criminal connotations, so using it to describe a workplace or team is a strong criticism of its secrecy and control.
In British English: /ˌkəʊzə ˈnɒstrə/. In American English: /ˌkoʊsə ˈnoʊstrə/. The 's' in 'Cosa' is pronounced like a 'z'.
The Sicilian Mafia or Mafia-type organized crime, often understood as a secret criminal society bound by honor and silence.
Cosa nostra is usually formal, literary, journalistic, specialized in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(Metaphorically) He runs the department like his own little Cosa Nostra.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Cosa Nostra means "Our Thing" in Italian. Remember it as a secretive group that says, "This is OUR thing, outsiders stay out."
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATION IS A FAMILY (with criminal intent); SECRECY IS A WALL.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate definition of 'Cosa Nostra' in English?