Omerta

Pronunciation: /oʊˈmɛrtə/

Definitions of omerta

noun a code of silence practiced by the Mafia; a strict code of silence and non-cooperation among criminals

Example Sentences

A1 Omerta is a code of silence among members of a criminal organization.

A2 The mafia boss enforced omerta among his subordinates to prevent them from talking to the police.

B1 The concept of omerta is deeply ingrained in certain criminal cultures, where loyalty is valued above all else.

B2 Breaking omerta can have severe consequences, including retaliation from other members of the organization.

C1 Omerta is a complex social phenomenon that involves not only silence but also loyalty, honor, and a sense of belonging.

C2 The omerta surrounding certain criminal activities can be so strong that even law enforcement struggles to gather evidence and witness testimonies.

Examples of omerta in a Sentence

formal The mafia code of omerta prohibits members from cooperating with law enforcement.

informal You better keep your mouth shut if you know about the omerta.

slang Snitches get stitches when they break the omerta.

figurative In some organizations, there is an unspoken omerta about discussing certain sensitive topics.

Grammatical Forms of omerta

• past tense: omertaed
• plural: omertas
• comparative: more omerta
• superlative: most omerta
• present tense: omerta
• future tense: will omerta
• perfect tense: have omertaed
• continuous tense: is omertaing
• singular: omerta
• positive degree: omerta
• infinitive: to omerta
• gerund: omertaing
• participle: omertaed

Origin and Evolution of omerta

First Known Use: 0017 year

Language of Origin: Italian

Story behind the word: The word 'omerta' originated in Southern Italy among the Sicilian Mafia as a code of silence and non-cooperation with authorities.

Evolution of the word: Originally used within the criminal underworld to enforce loyalty and secrecy, 'omerta' has since been adopted more widely to describe a code of silence or non-disclosure in various contexts.