graffiti

[ gruh-fee-tee ]
/ grəˈfi ti /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR graffiti ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

plural of graffito.
(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.
(used with a singular verb) such markings as a whole or as constituting a particular group: Not much graffiti appears around here these days.

Origin of graffiti

1850–55; < Italian, plural of graffito incised inscription or design, derivative with -ito -ite2 of graffiare to scratch, perhaps influenced by presumed Latin *graphīre to write; both probably derivative of Latin graphium stylus < Greek grapheîon; cf. graphic, grapho-, graft1

usage note for graffiti

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM graffiti

graf·fi·tist, noun

Words nearby graffiti

graeco-roman, graefe's operation, graefe's sign, graeffe method, graf, graffiti, graffito, graft, graft hybrid, graft-versus-host disease, graftage

Definition for graffiti (2 of 2)

graffito
[ gruh-fee-toh ]
/ grəˈfi toʊ /

noun, plural graf·fi·ti [gruh-fee-tee] /grəˈfi ti/.

Archaeology. an ancient drawing or writing scratched on a wall or other surface.
a single example of graffiti.

Origin of graffito

see origin at graffiti

usage note for graffito

See graffiti.

Words related to graffiti

defacement, scribbling

Example sentences from the Web for graffiti

British Dictionary definitions for graffiti

graffiti
/ (ɡræˈfiːtiː) /

pl n singular -to (-təʊ)

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

Derived forms of graffiti

graffitist, noun

Word Origin for graffiti

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