Teflon Don
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Nickname for John Gotti (1940–2002), American crime boss.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
On June 23, 1992, Mafia boss John Gotti, who was nicknamed the "Teflon Don" after escaping unscathed from several trials during the 1980s, is sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty on 14 accounts of conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering.
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 “Teflon Don” mean?
Nickname for John Gotti (1940–2002), American crime boss.
Is “Teflon Don” formal or informal?
Teflon Don is generally slang.