vandal

noun

van·​dal ˈvan-dᵊl 

1

capitalized : a member of a Germanic people who lived in the area south of the Baltic Sea between the Vistula and the Oder rivers, overran Gaul, Spain, and northern Africa in the fourth and fifth centuries a.d., and in 455 sacked Rome

2

: one who willfully or ignorantly destroys, damages, or defaces property belonging to another or to the public

vandal adjective often capitalized

Vandalic

van-ˈda-lik 

adjective

Synonyms

• defacer

Examples of vandal in a Sentence

Vandals defaced the school's walls.

a group of vandals broke into the school and painted graffiti on the walls

Recent Examples on the Web

Museum officials are assessing the damage and are working with Milwaukee Police to try to identify the vandal, Censky told committee members. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024

But its basketball hoops have already lost their glass backboards, which were shattered by vandals. —Sam Lubell, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024

Unfinished tower blocks in Los Angeles that have become a destination for vandals, graffiti artists and BASE jumping thrill-seekers have cost 3,000 hours of police time so far, authorities said. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024

Rohrwacher similarly dotes on Arthur and his gang of vandals, patronizing their colorful, raucous vulgarity. —Armond White, National Review, 3 Apr. 2024

And vandals would spray paint derogatory messages on the Handy Corner Market’s wall, turning it into a slander message board. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024

Three of the park's four monkeys had escaped after vandals cut a hole overnight in the wire cage using pliers. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024

Flaco, the famous Central Park Zoo owl who went missing after a vandal tampered with the bird's exhibit more than a year ago, died Friday, zoo officials said. —Dennis Romero, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2024

Nearly 20 years later, vandals dug up and defiled corpses. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin Vandalī (plural) (Latin Vindilī, Vandiliī), probably borrowed from Germanic *wand-il-, noun derivative from a verbal base *wend- "wind, wrap, turn, move" (whence Old English windan "to twist, move with speed or force"), as in *auza-wandil-, perhaps, "dawn-wanderer," name of a star and mythological figure (whence Old Norse Aurvandill, Old English ēarendel) — more at wind entry 3

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

vandal

noun

van·​dal ˈvan-dᵊl 

1

capitalized : a member of a Germanic people overrunning Gaul, Spain, and northern Africa in the fourth and fifth centuries a.d.

2

: a person who destroys or damages property on purpose

Etymology

from Latin Vandalii (plural) "The Vandals"; of Germanic origin

Word Origin

The Vandals were a Germanic people who originally lived in northern Europe. In the fourth and fifth centuries, however, other barbarian peoples, especially the Huns, forced the Vandals to migrate westward and southward through what are now the lands of France and Spain. They finally settled in northern Africa. But as they migrated, the Vandals did not just pass through an area. They destroyed many cities and towns. They probably were no worse than other barbarians, but they became widely known for destruction. This probably happened because they invaded and looted the city of Rome in 455. They destroyed or ruined much of what they could not take with them. The Vandals were later defeated by the Roman army but their bad reputation caused their name to be used for "a deliberately destructive person."

Legal Definition

vandal

noun

van·​dal ˈvand-ᵊl 

: a person who willfully destroys, damages, or defaces property belonging to another or to the public

Etymology

Vandal, member of a Germanic tribe who sacked Rome in a.d. 455