mafia

(noun) a crime syndicate in the United States; organized in families; believed to have important relations to the Sicilian Mafia. Synonyms: Mafia, Maffia, Cosa Nostra.

(noun) a secret terrorist group in Sicily; originally opposed tyranny but evolved into a criminal organization in the middle of the 19th century. Synonyms: Mafia, Maffia, Sicilian Mafia.

(noun) any tightly knit group of trusted associates. Synonyms: maffia.