goodfella

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A gangster, especially one in the Mafia.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Was Anthony Mirra a wiseguy then? […] If Mirra wasn't a good fellow at the time you was there, his argument is no good.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “goodfella” mean?

A gangster, especially one in the Mafia.

Is “goodfella” formal or informal?

goodfella is generally slang.