Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cosa-nostra

Noun

/ˈkoʊ.zə ˈnoʊ.strə/

Definition

A secret society of criminals originating from Sicily, known for organized crime activities.

Examples

The authorities have been cracking down on the activities of the Cosa Nostra in recent years.
He was said to have connections with the Cosa Nostra, which raised concerns about his business practices.

Meaning

The term literally means ‘our thing’ in Italian and refers to a criminal organization involved in various illegal activities including extortion, drug trafficking, and racketeering.