graffiti

play

verb graf·fi·ti \ grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tē , gra- , grä- \

Definition of graffiti

graffitied; graffitiing play \grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tē-iŋ, gra-, grä-\ also graffiting play \grə-ˈfē-tiŋ, gra-, grä-\

transitive verb

:to draw graffiti on :to deface with graffiti

graffitied walls

Recent Examples of graffiti from the Web

From trippy rainbow stripes to graffiti-style embellishments, there's a lot happening with knitwear right now that pushes the envelope.

— megan gustashaw, GQ, "The Fall Sweater That Makes You Look Stronger," 26 Aug. 2017
The Montreal resident, who runs a power-washing business, is the founder of an initiative called Erasing Hate, where he is often called upon to remove hate symbols that have been graffitied onto public property, according to the CBC.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Canadian Town’s Swastika-Adorned Anchor Causes Anger and Confusion," 25 Aug. 2017
During the current fiscal year, which ends this week, the city doubled the number of full-time employees devoted to graffiti efforts from five to 10.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego graffiti crackdown includes more staff, centralization, phone app," 26 June 2017
The bowl came graffitied in caramel and chocolate syrup that alerted the senses that good things would happen in your belly thereafter.

— jared boyd, AL.com, "Alabama's Best Steakhouses: Coach's in Town Creek," 23 June 2017
The teen-age sisters Halle and Chloe Bailey, whose has 13.3 million views, walked in black minidresses and red graffitied booties.

— christina binkley, The New Yorker, "Dolce & Gabbana’s Runway Experiment," 3 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'graffiti.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of graffiti

see ²graffiti

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1964

See Words from the same year

graffiti

noun

Definition of graffiti

:usually unauthorized writing or drawing on a public surface

See graffiti defined for English-language learners

See graffiti defined for kids

Is graffiti singular or plural?

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.