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vandal
[ van-dl ]
/ ˈvæn dl /
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noun
(initial capital letter) a member of a Germanic people who in the 5th century a.d. ravaged Gaul and Spain, settled in Africa, and in a.d. 455 sacked Rome.
a person who willfully or ignorantly destroys or mars something beautiful or valuable.
adjective
(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Vandals.
imbued with or characterized by vandalism.
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Origin of vandal
First recorded in 1545–55, vandal is from the Late Latin word Vandalus, Latinized tribal name
Words nearby vandal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use vandal in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for vandal (1 of 2)
vandal
/ (ˈvændəl) /
noun
- a person who deliberately causes damage or destruction to personal or public property
- (as modifier)vandal instincts
Word Origin for vandal
C17: from Vandal, from Latin Vandallus, of Germanic origin
British Dictionary definitions for vandal (2 of 2)
Vandal
/ (ˈvændəl) /
noun
a member of a Germanic people that raided Roman provinces in the 3rd and 4th centuries ad before devastating Gaul (406–409), conquering Spain and N Africa, and sacking Rome (455): crushed by Belisarius at Carthage (533)
Derived forms of Vandal
Vandalic (vænˈdælɪk), adjectiveVandalism, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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