Definition of GRAFFITO

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

Rocky celebrated with friends like Jaden Smith, and the walls of the VIP section were covered in graffiti painted especially for the event by Australian artist Pauly Bonomelli, aka @himumimdead. — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, "A$AP Rocky Dropped a New Sneaker By Staging a Harlem Rave Slash Skate Park," 17 Sep. 2018 His Facebook page even featured gang graffiti and signs. — Barnini Chakraborty, Fox News, "Alleged MS-13 member asks court to reverse deportation because he's afraid his tattoos will get him killed," 27 Sep. 2018 Chicago artist Ryan Lape blanketed a long wall of the restaurant with colorful graffiti depicting scenes of the city. — Lori Rackl, chicagotribune.com, "W Chicago-City Center hotel in the Loop rolls out new look, 'neighborhood' restaurant," 16 Mar. 2018 Kurkulis began experimenting with graffiti in high school before beginning his career in digital graphic design. — Morgan Smith, chicagotribune.com, "Tag, you're it: Native 312 Events hosts a graffiti workshop," 21 June 2018 The confluence of the two events — the imminent destruction of 5Pointz and Banksy’s residency — have made graffiti the talk of New York again. — Alexander Nazaryan, Newsweek, "Street Art's New Class War," 14 Oct. 2013 After a series of small but unprecedented incidents, the butchers federation says its members need protection from militants who have broken windows, thrown fake blood and sprayed graffiti on their shops. — Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times, "Citing Anti-Meat Sentiment, Butchers in France Seek Police Protection," 26 June 2018 In February, a 66-foot-long blue whale carcass was found along the coast of Chile desecrated with graffiti and stomped on by tourists, Fox News had reported. — Amy Lieu, Fox News, "Blue whale found on California coast died from ship strike, scientists say," 20 June 2018 But the political graffiti scrawled across Dakar’s walls tell a different story. — The Economist, "Senegal’s democracy is being tested by its president," 28 June 2018

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