Street
associate
What does associate mean?
An associate works with an organized-crime family and shares in its business but has not been formally inducted as a made member.
"He was a trusted associate for years before he ever got his button."
Origin
American Mafia slang.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Mafia 'associate'?
Someone who works with and earns for a crime family and shares in its business, but has not been formally inducted as a 'made' member.
How is an associate different from a made man?
A made man has gone through the formal induction ceremony and full membership, while an associate operates alongside the family without that status and cannot rise into the ranks until made.
Can an associate become a made member?
In principle yes. In the traditional structure a trusted associate could eventually be inducted, often described as getting his 'button'.
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