graffiti

[ gruh-fee-tee ]

/ grəˈfi ti /

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See synonyms for graffiti on Thesaurus.com

noun

plural of graffito.

(used with a plural verb) markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public restroom, or the like: These graffiti are evidence of the neighborhood's decline.

(used with a singular verb) such markings as a whole or as constituting a particular group: Not much graffiti appears around here these days.

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Origin of graffiti

1850–55; <Italian, plural of graffito incised inscription or design, derivative with -ito-ite² of graffiare to scratch, perhaps influenced by presumed Latin *graphīre to write; both probably derivative of Latin graphium stylus <Greek grapheîon;cf. graphic, grapho-, graft¹

usage note for graffiti

In formal speech and writing graffiti takes a plural verb. In less formal contexts it is sometimes considered a mass noun and is used with a singular verb. The singular graffito is found mostly in archaeological and other technical writing.

OTHER WORDS FROM graffiti

graf·fi·tist, noun

Words nearby graffiti

Graeco-, Graeco-Roman, Graeffe method, Graf, Gräfenberg spot, graffiti, graffito, graft, graftage, grafter, graft hybrid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use graffiti in a sentence

Among other things, the officers serve on a violent crimes task force, a graffiti strike force and maintain local CalGang data files, a state database with its share of problems.
Defund the Police? Here’s What’s Actually Possible in San Diego|Ashly McGlone|December 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Over the years, it has mostly come in the form of political cartoons, music, graffiti and sketch shows.
In Kenya, a puppet TV show keeps building on the country’s legacy of political satire|Carlos Mureithi|November 29, 2020|Quartz
This phenomenon—which occurred only at the break of dawn—sparked a tourist craze, and visitors left ancient Yelp reviews in the form of graffiti on the statue’s base.
Imagine traveling to the moon only to realize you’re allergic to it. One astronaut did.|PopSci Staff|November 25, 2020|Popular-Science
Some protest graffiti, however, have been blurred out on the Street View map.
Google Maps blurred “fight for freedom” and “democracy” graffiti in Hong Kong|Mary Hui|September 8, 2020|Quartz

Hip-hop, the superset that included break-dancing and graffiti art and picked up where disco left off, hit hard and Jackson earned a second — hell, third — life being sampled.
The Mother of WAP? The Indisputable Ms. Millie Jackson|Eugene Robinson|August 30, 2020|Ozy
Small rooms off its graffiti-covered foyer provide shelter from the thick rain that can unexpectedly, and vengefully, hit.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Graffiti was borne out of the South Bronx streets as one of the key pillars of the hip-hop movement.
Catch Him If You Can: Reliving Banksy’s New York Invasion|Alex Suskind|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The amount of graffiti on such a wall would depend on the commitment of its defenders.
You Can Look It Up: The Wikipedia Story|Walter Isaacson|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In early September 2014 residence of Mashhad city in northeastern iran reported graffiti hailing ISIS.
Iran Says It’s Under Attack by ISIS|Jassem Al Salami|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Three stray dogs saunter out of our way as we turn into a residential area lined with trailers and graffiti-sprayed stop signs.
A Shooting on a Tribal Land Uncovers Feds Running Wild|Caitlin Dickson|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I liked Mission graffiti; a lot of the times, it came in huge, luscious murals, or sarcastic art-student stencils.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Some excellent examples of graffiti work decorate part of the wall.
Cathedral Cities of Italy|William Wiehe Collins
The topmost which forms the platform in front of the faade is inlaid with graffiti designs in black and other colours.
Cathedral Cities of Italy|William Wiehe Collins
The pavement of the whole cathedral is composed of graffiti in coloured marble pictures.
Cathedral Cities of Italy|William Wiehe Collins
Graffiti is an irreverent form, with strong popular and anti-establishment elements.
The Merry-Thought: or the Glass-Window and Bog-House Miscellany|Hurlo Thrumbo (pseudonym)

British Dictionary definitions for graffiti

graffiti

/ (ɡræˈfiːtiː) /

pl n singular -to (-təʊ)

(sometimes with singular verb) drawings, messages, etc, often obscene, scribbled on the walls of public lavatories, advertising posters, etc

archaeol inscriptions or drawings scratched or carved onto a surface, esp rock or pottery

Derived forms of graffiti

graffitist, noun

Word Origin for graffiti

C19: graffito from Italian: a little scratch, from graffio, from Latin graphium stylus, from Greek grapheion; see graft 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

graffiti

Origin of graffiti

usage note for graffiti

OTHER WORDS FROM graffiti

Words nearby graffiti

Words related to graffiti

How to use graffiti in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for graffiti

Derived forms of graffiti

Word Origin for graffiti