graffito

noun

graf·​fi·​to grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tō 

gra-,

grä-

plural graffiti grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tē 

gra-,

grä-

: an inscription or drawing made on some public surface (such as a rock or wall)

also : a message or slogan written as or as if as a graffito

graffitist

grə-ˈfē-tist 

gra-

grä-

noun

Did you know?

Graffito Is the Singular Form of Graffiti

Any casual writing or design marked on a wall is a graffito. Graffiti (the plural of graffito) have been made throughout history; they are found in abundance on the monuments of ancient Egypt. Technically the term applies to a design scratched through a layer of paint or plaster, but its meaning is extended to other markings. Graffiti produced with spray paint became notorious in New York City in the 1970s and have appeared in cities all over the US and Europe. The 20th-century preoccupation with manifestations of the subconscious stimulated this form of expression and produced a vogue for “graffiti art.” Graffiti are sometimes considered a form of folk art.

Examples of graffito in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their theory also fit with an ancient graffito found in Puteoli, Italy, depicting a crucified individual, with a woman’s name, Alkimila, above a shoulder. —Fredrick Kunkle, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Apr. 2023

The home in front of them had boarded up windows and graffiti scrawled on its classic white exterior. —Alina Dizik, WSJ, 28 May 2020

Some protesters damaged windows, a squad car and spraying graffiti on the building. —Lici Beveridge, USA TODAY, 28 May 2020

Protesters eventually made their way to a police precinct, where some demonstrators damaged windows and sprayed graffiti, according to the Associated Press. —Mahita Gajanan, Time, 27 May 2020

Word History

Etymology

Italian, incised inscription, from graffiare to scratch, probably from grafio stylus, from Latin graphium

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

graffito

noun

graf·​fi·​to gra-ˈfēt-ō 

plural graffiti -(ˌ)ē 

: a writing or drawing made on a public surface (as a wall or rock)

Etymology

Italian, literally, "little scratch," from graffio "scratch," derived from Latin graphium "pointed device for writing on wax tablets," derived from Greek graphein "to write" — related to -gram, grammar, -graph