omerta
Gangsters never talk
Omerta is the code of silence associated with the Mafia and other organized crime groups—the rule that members never cooperate with authorities or reveal information about criminal activities.
Breaking omerta traditionally carried severe consequences, including death.
The term extends to any unwritten rule against informing: The department's omerta protected corrupt officers for years.
Sicilian criminal organization
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- made manInitiated organized crime member
- bossWorkplace superior
family · clan · mobster · enforcer · Sicilian · racketeering · extortion · protection
Total lack of sound
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- vowSolemn personal commitment
oath · pledge · covenant · pact · bond · commitment · tradition · ritual
Not verbally expressed
- unsaidNot expressed verbally
- wordlessLacking spoken content
- muteWithout voice or sound
- hushAbsence of sound
taciturnity · reticence · speechless · voiceless · tight-lipped · stonewalling · denial · evasion
Loyalty owed to authority
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
solidarity · brotherhood · camaraderie · trustworthiness · fealty · honor · integrity · blood bond
Quality of protecting secrets
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- hiddenKept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
veiled · shrouded · classified · surreptitious · furtive · underground · shadow · cloak-and-dagger
Cosa Nostra
Sicilian criminal organization
- godfatherMale baptismal guardian
- underbossCriminal organization's deputy
- made manInitiated organized crime member
boss · family · clan · mobster · enforcer · Sicilian · racketeering · extortion · protection · smuggling
silence
Total lack of sound
- secrecyPractice of hiding information
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
vow · oath · pledge · covenant · pact · bond · commitment · tradition · ritual · blood oath
unspoken
Not verbally expressed
hush · taciturnity · reticence · speechless · voiceless · tight-lipped · stonewalling · denial · evasion · complicity
allegiance
Loyalty owed to authority
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
steadfastness · solidarity · brotherhood · camaraderie · trustworthiness · fealty · honor · integrity · blood bond · family ties
confidentiality
Quality of protecting secrets
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- hiddenKept out of sight
concealed · veiled · shrouded · classified · surreptitious · furtive · underground · shadow · cloak-and-dagger · discretion
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- Italian AmericansItalian Americans, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese
- Mob MediaThe Godfather, Goodfellas, The Sopranos, Scarface, Casino
- social codessocial norms, social norm, unwritten rule, unspoken rule, unspoken rules
- Mafiamafia, Cosa Nostra, Sicilian Mafia, Five Families, Colombo
- organized crimemafia, mob, the mob, syndicate, crime syndicate
omertainforming
Conveying facts to another
whistleblowing · turning state's evidence · confession · testimony · snitching
omertacooperation
Joint action toward shared aims
betrayal · defection · flipping · civic duty · law-abiding
omertatransparency
State of being see-through
full disclosure · openness · accountability · public testimony · candor