maf ‧ i ‧ a /ˈmæfiə $ ˈmɑː-, ˈmæ-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Italian ; Origin: Italian dialect , 'great confidence, proud talk' ]
1 . the Mafia a large organized group of criminals who control many illegal activities, especially in Italy and the US
2 . [singular] a powerful group of people within an organization or profession who support and protect each other:
the medical mafia