vandalism

noun

van·​dal·​ism ˈvan-də-ˌli-zəm 

: willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property

Synonyms of vandalism

• vandalization
• destruction
• defacement

Examples of vandalism in a Sentence

acts of theft and vandalism

He was arrested for vandalism.

Recent Examples on the Web

Both are part of a growing wave of activist vandalism targeting the traffic surveillance technology. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026

Fuentes was booked on charges of felony vandalism, vehicle theft and felony evading, the Police Department said. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

In the early 2010s, the church and school experienced a series of vandalism incidents and thefts, with four break-ins reported between 2008 and 2012. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Philadelphia Police The vandalism has already been cleaned up, the museum said. — Laura Fay, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

vandal + -ism

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

vandalism

noun

van·​dal·​ism ˈvan-dᵊl-ˌiz-əm 

: intentional destruction or damage to property

Legal Definition

vandalism

noun

van·​dal·​ism ˈvand-ᵊl-ˌi-zəm 

: the willful or malicious destruction or defacement of property

insurance covering property damage from vandalism and malicious mischief