graffiti

1 of 2

noun

graf·​fi·​ti grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tē 

gra-,

grä-

: usually unauthorized writing or drawing on a public surface

Is graffiti singular or plural?: Usage Guide

Graffiti, which also serves as the plural of graffito, is commonly used as a singular mass noun.

graffiti … was depressing people who rode the subways

—New Yorker

graffiti comes in various styles

—S. K. Oberbeck

This use is well established although not yet as well established as the mass-noun use of data. Use of graffiti as a singular count noun is still quite rare and is not standard.

graffiti

2 of 2

verb

graffitied; graffitiing grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tē-iŋ 

gra-,

grä-

also graffiting grə-ˈfē-tiŋ 

gra-,

grä-

transitive verb

: to draw graffiti on : to deface with graffiti

graffitied walls

Examples of graffiti in a Sentence

Noun

The walls of the old building are covered with graffiti.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The audience gets a re-introduction to the afterlife when a French graffiti artist (Sami Slimane) working for Delia accidentally falls down a New York City manhole and ends up in the tiled, off-kilter hallway from the first movie. —Josh Weiss, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

In 2023, reports of anti-Semitic graffiti and literature across Indiana climbed to 59, according to the ADL, and 44 more were reported in the first eight months of 2024. —Sade Ajishegiri, Nic Napier, Max Reich and Isabella Vesperini, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2024

Verb

The London Street Art outing where my daughter got to graffiti a butterfly onto a building wall provided some of the cutest pictures from the trip. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2024

In New York City, antisemites graffiti the walls with Jew-hatred. —Mike Wagenheim, Sun Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Italian, plural of graffito

First Known Use

Noun

1945, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1964, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

graffiti

noun

graf·​fi·​ti

grə-ˈfēt-ē

: usually unlawful writing or drawing on a public surface

graffiti verb

Etymology

Noun

Italian, plural of graffito