This is the 3024th most frequent French word.
mafia
A criminal organization operating through illegal activities and secret networks.
Here, 'mafia' refers explicitly to organized crime groups, illustrating its primary meaning.
La mafia exerce une grande influence sur les affaires locales.
The mafia exerts a great influence on local affairs.
Here, 'mafia' refers to a specific group, the Sicilian mafia, used in its cultural and historical sense.
Il a vu un film fascinant sur la mafia sicilienne hier soir.
He watched a fascinating movie about the Sicilian mafia last night.
In this context, 'mafia' is used metaphorically to describe a situation of exclusivity or close-knit operations.