Cosa Nostra is a term used to refer to the Italian-American MAFIA, also known as 'The Mob'. It is an organized crime syndicate that originated in Sicily and has been active in the United States since the late 19th century. Cosa Nostra is an Italian phrase meaning 'our thing' or 'this thing of ours'. The term is often used to refer to the criminal activities of the MAFIA, such as extortion, racketeering, and drug trafficking.