graffito

noun graf·fi·to \ grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tō , gra- , grä- \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Editor's Note: graffito Is the Singular Form of Graffiti

Definition of graffito

plural graffiti play \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

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graffitist

play \grə-ˈfē-tist, gra-, grä-\ noun

See graffito defined for kids

Recent Examples of graffito from the Web

With Reynolds’ newest addition, the city now has around 10 murals, which Motley said discourage graffiti, beautify the landscape and help the city tell its story to visitors.

— emily k. coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "Artist behind Ray Bradbury mural in Waukegan hopes his work will inspire kids who don't have access to art," 13 July 2018
In addition, two white men came to her store and knocked books and other items to the floor, and then her store windows were vandalized by racist graffiti.

— cathie anderson, sacbee, "Carol McNeal, who built a library of black experience at Sacramento bookstore, dies at 86," 10 July 2018
The results show that homes in predominantly white neighborhoods are more likely to have grass trimmed and edged, trash removed, doors and windows maintained and graffiti removed, according to the news release.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "Lawsuit alleges housing discrimination by Bank of America in Indianapolis, other cities," 26 June 2018
Back in the 80s, those early graffiti writers would meet at the Illinois Centennial Monument in Logan Square for sketch sessions and then hop blue line trains to write on viaducts and in tunnels.

— leor galil, Chicago Reader, "Arts / Hip-Hop / Visual Art Is Logan Square's graffiti permission wall in danger?," 14 June 2018
The scooters began arriving in the artsy district known for its colorful graffiti on Tuesday.

— johnny diaz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Need an electric scooter in Miami? There's an app for that," 18 Apr. 2018
At that time, in the early 1980s, litter drifted through the park’s meadows, benches were falling apart and graffiti defaced the rocks.

— james r. hagerty, WSJ, "William Beinecke Diversified S&H Green Stamps Empire Into Furniture, Insurance," 13 Apr. 2018
Officers said a group of three or four people were spray painting graffiti on a sign when they were confronted by a resident.

— karen kucher, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Resident confronts vandals in Chula Vista, shots fired," 31 May 2018
In February, a judge awarded $6.7 million to graffiti artists who sued after dozens of their spray paintings were destroyed to make room for high-rise luxury residences.

— Washington Post, "Philadelphia shuts Graffiti Pier, spurring calls for park," 29 May 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.

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.