mafia-style
|ma/fi/a/style|
/ˈmæfiə staɪl/
in the manner of the Mafia
Etymology
'mafia-style' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'mafia' (itself from Sicilian 'mafia'), combined in English with the noun 'style' (from Old French/Latin 'stilus' meaning 'manner' or 'mode').
'mafia' entered English in the late 19th/early 20th century referring to the Sicilian secret society and later to organized crime; English speakers later formed the compound 'mafia-style' by combining 'mafia' + 'style' to mean 'in the manner of the Mafia'.
Initially, 'mafia' referred specifically to a Sicilian group and its social/political context; over time it broadened to mean organized-crime groups in general, and 'mafia-style' came to mean 'in the manner of such groups' (i.e., secretive, violent, corrupt methods).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a manner or method that is characteristic of the Mafia; an action carried out in a mafia-like way.
Their collection tactics were a mafia-style straightening of accounts.
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Adjective 1
resembling or characteristic of the Mafia: using secretive, organized-crime methods such as intimidation, violence, or corruption.
The company executives used mafia-style tactics to silence whistleblowers.
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Last updated: 2025/09/13 18:12