mobsters
Organized crime figures
Mobsters are members of organized crime groups, particularly the Italian-American Mafia.
The term evokes a specific era and style—suited men in smoky rooms, protection rackets, and coded loyalty: The mobsters ran the neighborhood.
A mobster is a gangster, but with connotations of hierarchy and syndicate membership rather than street-level criminality.
Organized crime members
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- extortionObtaining through threats
- bootleggingIllegal alcohol production/sale
hitmen · smuggling · loan sharking · protection racket · organized crime · syndicate · underworld · contraband
Workplace superior
- capoString-shortening clamp device
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
- donPut on attire
godfather · family · crew · associates · soldiers · enforcer · lieutenant · made man
1990 gangster film
- ScarfaceCriminal's disfigurement-based nickname
- CaponeNotorious Chicago crime boss
- BugsyNickname for erratic gangsters
- Cosa NostraSicilian criminal organization
Gotti · Lucky Luciano · Hollywood · Coppola · Scorsese · Brando · Pacino · wise guys
Constitutional alcohol ban era
- roaring twentiesProsperous 1920s period
- speakeasiesIllicit liquor establishments
- ChicagoMajor Illinois metropolis
- New YorkNortheastern metropolis and state
bootleggers · rum runners · Vegas · Atlantic City · nightclubs · jazz age · fedoras · pinstripes
gangsters
Organized crime members
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- extortionObtaining through threats
bootlegging · hitmen · smuggling · loan sharking · protection racket · organized crime · syndicate · underworld · contraband · trafficking
boss
Workplace superior
- capoString-shortening clamp device
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- consigliereMafia boss's trusted counselor
don · godfather · family · crew · associates · soldiers · enforcer · lieutenant · made man · initiation
Goodfellas
1990 gangster film
- ScarfaceCriminal's disfigurement-based nickname
- CaponeNotorious Chicago crime boss
- BugsyNickname for erratic gangsters
Gotti · Lucky Luciano · Cosa Nostra · Hollywood · Coppola · Scorsese · Brando · Pacino · wise guys · noir
Prohibition
Constitutional alcohol ban era
- roaring twentiesProsperous 1920s period
- speakeasiesIllicit liquor establishments
- ChicagoMajor Illinois metropolis
New York · bootleggers · rum runners · Vegas · Atlantic City · nightclubs · jazz age · fedoras · pinstripes · getaway cars
- Mob MediaThe Godfather, Goodfellas, The Sopranos, Scarface, Casino
- organized crimemafia, syndicate, crime syndicate, crime syndicates, syndicates
- Las Vegascasino, slot machine, gambling, blackjack, poker
- thugsthugs, goons, heavies, toughs, brutes
- oppressorstyrants, despots, dictators, autocrats, authoritarians
- BatmanBatman, Bruce Wayne, Gotham, Gotham City, Joker
mobsterslaw enforcement
Upholding legal codes
police officers · cops · FBI agents · federal agents · detectives
mobstersheroes
Admired courageous figures
saints · do-gooders · philanthropists · Good Samaritans · humanitarians