1. A code of silence, especially among members of organized crime, in which witnesses refuse to cooperate with law enforcement.
Usage: Often capitalized when referring to the Mafia code; from Italian; Used figuratively to describe any conspiracy of silence

Examples

• The witness invoked omerta and refused to testify against the crime boss.
• In the small town, omerta protected the corrupt officials from exposure.
• Breaking omerta was considered the ultimate betrayal in the criminal organization.
• The journalist struggled to penetrate the omerta surrounding the scandal.
• Local residents maintained omerta, unwilling to speak to investigators about what they had seen.