graffiti

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/grəˈfiːti/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/grəˈfiti/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(grə fētē)

From graffito (n): npl: graffiti

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
graf•fi•ti /grəˈfiti/USA pronunciation  n. [uncountable]
  1. drawings, writings, or marks made in public places, as walls, signs, or posters.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
graf•fi•ti  (grə fētē),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. pl. of graffito. 
  2. (used with a pl. v.) 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 sing. v.) such markings as a whole or as constituting a particular group:Not much graffiti appears around here these days.
  • Greek grapheîon; compare graphic, grapho-, graft1
  • Italian, plural of graffito incised inscription or design, derivative with -ito -ite2 of graffiare to scratch, perh. influenced by presumed Latin *graphīre to write; both probably derivative of Latin graphium stylus
  • 1850–55
graf•fitist, n. 
    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.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
graffiti / ɡræˈfiːtiː/ ( -to / -təʊ/)
  1. (sometimes with singular verb) drawings, messages, etc, often obscene, scribbled on the walls of public lavatories, advertising posters, etc
  2. inscriptions or drawings scratched or carved onto a surface, esp rock or pottery
Etymology: 19th Century: graffito from Italian: a little scratch, from graffio, from Latin graphium stylus, from Greek grapheion; see graft1
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
graf•fi•to  (grə fētō),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ti 
    (-tē).USA pronunciation 
  1. Archaeology, Pronounsan ancient drawing or writing scratched on a wall or other surface.
  2. a single example of graffiti.
  • see graffiti
    See graffiti. 

'graffiti' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Forum discussions with the word(s) "graffiti" in the title:


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