vandal

[ van-dl ]

noun

1. (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.
2. a person who willfully or ignorantly destroys or mars something beautiful or valuable.

adjective

1. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Vandals.
2. imbued with or characterized by vandalism.

Vandal

¹

/ ˈvændəl; vænˈdælɪk /

noun

1. 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)

vandal

²

/ ˈvændəl /

noun

1. 1. a person who deliberately causes damage or destruction to personal or public property
   2. ( as modifier )

      vandal instincts

Derived Forms

• Vandalic, adjective
• ˈVandalˌism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vandal¹

First recorded in 1545–55, vandal is from the Late Latin word Vandalus, Latinized tribal name

Word History and Origins

Origin of vandal¹

C17: from Vandal , from Latin Vandallus, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Vandals drummer Josh Freese hadn’t touched a video game in almost 20 years when he started playing “THPS” to beat boredom on the tour bus when the band was performing in Europe.

From Los Angeles Times

He added he received footage of the defacing with the message "South Vandals 4 life! Team Robbo".

From BBC

Benny is reduced to a symbol of sorts, a visual emblem of the Vandals’ dangerous glamour.

From Los Angeles Times

The story, such as it is, traces the evolution of a fictional Chicago-area motorcycle club, the Vandals, from its racer origins.

From New York Times

The film is deeply evocative of its time and place and, as the Vandals’ fortunes rise and fall, there’s an almost anthropological interest in the intricacies of how the gang operates and decisions get made.

From Los Angeles Times