noun
Uncommon
graffiti
gruh-FEE-tee
Graffiti (noun) means Words, drawings, or designs painted or scratched onto a wall or other public surface, often without permission. Example: “The underpass walls were covered in colorful graffiti.”
noun
1
Words, drawings, or designs painted or scratched onto a wall or other public surface, often without permission.
"The underpass walls were covered in colorful graffiti."
"City crews spent the morning removing graffiti from the subway cars."
"The council asked residents to report any graffiti they noticed on the park benches."
verb
1
To mark a surface with such drawings or writing.
"Someone graffitied the side of the abandoned building overnight."
"Vandals graffitied the bus shelter, and the council had to clean it."
"They were caught trying to graffiti the wall behind the shop."
How to use graffiti
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnauthorized writing or artwork on walls and public surfaces.
Common mistake
"Graffiti" is technically plural in Italian but is almost always treated as a singular mass noun in English ("the graffiti is," not "the graffiti are").
Common pairings
spray-paint graffiti
graffiti artist
remove graffiti
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- graffitis
- Past tense
- graffitied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The underpass walls were covered in colorful _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian graffiti, the plural of graffito, from graffire ("to scratch"), ultimately from Ancient Greek graphein ("to write").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for graffiti
See all rhymes for graffiti →Frequently asked questions
What does “graffiti” mean?
The word “graffiti” means words, drawings, or designs painted or scratched onto a wall or other public surface, often without permission. In plain terms, unauthorized writing or artwork on walls and public surfaces.
How do you pronounce “graffiti”?
“Graffiti” is pronounced gruh-FEE-tee (/ɡɹəˈfi.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “graffiti” in a sentence?
Here is “graffiti” used in a sentence: “The underpass walls were covered in colorful graffiti.”
What part of speech is “graffiti”?
Depending on how it is used, “graffiti” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “graffiti” come from?
The word “graffiti” comes from Ancient Greek. Borrowed from Italian graffiti, the plural of graffito, from graffire ("to scratch"), ultimately from Ancient Greek graphein ("to write").
Is “graffiti” a common word?
“Graffiti” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “graffiti” have?
“Graffiti” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: words, drawings, or designs painted or scratched onto a wall or other public surface, often without permission.
Is "graffiti" singular or plural?
"Graffiti" is treated as an uncountable noun in English, even though it originally comes from an Italian plural form. You say "the graffiti is" rather than "the graffiti are," and there is no separate singular form like "a graffito" in common usage.
Is graffiti always illegal?
Not necessarily. The definition centers on marks made on public surfaces "often without permission," meaning unauthorized graffiti is typically considered vandalism, but some graffiti-style art is commissioned or permitted, such as murals created with a property owner's consent.
What is the difference between graffiti and a mural?
Graffiti generally refers to writing or drawings placed on a surface without permission, often quickly and informally, while a mural is usually a large, planned artwork created with authorization. Some murals borrow graffiti's visual style, but the key distinction is permission and intent.
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