graffiti

[ gruh-fee-tee ]

noun

1. plural of graffito.
2. (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.

3. (used with a singular verb) such markings as a whole or as constituting a particular group:

   Not much graffiti appears around here these days.

graffiti

/ ɡræˈfiːtiː /

plural noun

1. sometimes with singular verb drawings, messages, etc, often obscene, scribbled on the walls of public lavatories, advertising posters, etc
2. archaeol inscriptions or drawings scratched or carved onto a surface, esp rock or pottery

Usage Note

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.

Derived Forms

• grafˈfitist, noun

Other Words From

• graf·fitist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of graffiti¹

1850–55; < Italian, plural of graffito incised inscription or design, derivative with -ito -ite ² of graffiare to scratch, perhaps influenced by presumed Latin *graphīre to write; both probably derivative of Latin graphium stylus < Greek grapheîon; graphic, grapho-, graft ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of graffiti¹

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

Example Sentences

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.

From Voice of San Diego

Over the years, it has mostly come in the form of political cartoons, music, graffiti and sketch shows.

From 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.

From Popular-Science

Some protest graffiti, however, have been blurred out on the Street View map.

From 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.

From Ozy

Small rooms off its graffiti-covered foyer provide shelter from the thick rain that can unexpectedly, and vengefully, hit.

From The Daily Beast

Graffiti was borne out of the South Bronx streets as one of the key pillars of the hip-hop movement.

From The Daily Beast

The amount of graffiti on such a wall would depend on the commitment of its defenders.

From The Daily Beast

In early September 2014 residence of Mashhad city in northeastern iran reported graffiti hailing ISIS.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

I liked Mission graffiti; a lot of the times, it came in huge, luscious murals, or sarcastic art-student stencils.

From Project Gutenberg

Some excellent examples of graffiti work decorate part of the wall.

From Project Gutenberg

The topmost which forms the platform in front of the faade is inlaid with graffiti designs in black and other colours.

From Project Gutenberg

The pavement of the whole cathedral is composed of graffiti in coloured marble pictures.

From Project Gutenberg

Graffiti is an irreverent form, with strong popular and anti-establishment elements.

From Project Gutenberg