Caporegime vs. Underboss — What's the Difference?

A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to capo or informally referred to as "captain", is a rank used in the Mafia (both the Sicilian Mafia and Italian-American Mafia) for a made member of an Italian crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization. Caporegime is an Italian word, which is used to signify the head of a family in Sicily, but has now come to mean a ranking member, similar to captain or senior sergeant in a military unit.

Underboss (Italian: sottocapo) is a position within the leadership structure of certain organized crime groups, particularly in Sicilian, Greek, and Italian-American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss.

A high-ranking member of a crime family in the Mafia who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has significant social status and influence in the organization.

An assistant to a chief, especially in a crime syndicate.

An assistant to the boss of a crime family

An assistant or second-in-command to a chief (especially in a crime syndicate)