English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

vandalism

VAN-duh-lihzm

Vandalism (noun) means Deliberate damage or destruction of property, such as graffiti or smashed windows. Example: “The park benches were covered in vandalism.”

noun
1
Deliberate damage or destruction of property, such as graffiti or smashed windows.
"The park benches were covered in vandalism."

How to use vandalism

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe deliberate wrecking or defacing of property.

Common pairings
act of vandalism victim of vandalism

Word forms

vandalisms plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “vandalism” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The park benches were covered in _____.

Etymology

From French vandalisme, coined in 1794 to describe the destruction of art during the French Revolution, itself named after the Vandals.

Origin: French · First attested 1794

Class of 1794 vandalism joined the language around 1794.
See the full Class of 1794 →
hooliganism malicious mischief

Related words

Rhymes for vandalism

See all rhymes for vandalism →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vandalism” mean?

The word “vandalism” means deliberate damage or destruction of property, such as graffiti or smashed windows. In plain terms, the deliberate wrecking or defacing of property.

How do you pronounce “vandalism”?

“Vandalism” is pronounced VAN-duh-lihzm (/ˈvændəlɪzm̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “vandalism” in a sentence?

Here is “vandalism” used in a sentence: “The park benches were covered in vandalism.”

What part of speech is “vandalism”?

“Vandalism” is a noun.

Where does the word “vandalism” come from?

The word “vandalism” dates back to around 1794 and comes from French. From French vandalisme, coined in 1794 to describe the destruction of art during the French Revolution, itself named after the Vandals.

Is “vandalism” a common word?

“Vandalism” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial