Graffiti

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.3 Usage notes 1.4 See also

English

Etymology

Italian plural of graffito, "scratched"

Noun

graffiti (uncountable; plural); singular: graffito or graffiti.

1. (archaeology, countable) Informal inscriptions , figure drawings, etc., as opposed to official inscriptions.
2. (generally uncountable) A form of vandalism involving painted text or images in public places.
3. (generally uncountable) Graffiti art

Usage notes

• The singular graffito is preferred for the sense of inscriptions.
• Either graffito or the uncountable graffiti may be heard in the context of vandalism/art. It appears difficult to determine the relative frequency of the two forms in this case, as the singular is rarely used in this context.

See also

• deface
• graffiti art
• hip-hop
• tagging
• vandalism