Graffiti Meaning
/ɡɹəˈfiː.ti/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounDrawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorization.
nounInformal inscriptions, figure drawings, etc., as opposed to official inscriptions.
Sentence Examples
The wall was covered with graffiti.
It's not graffiti; it's Banksy!
Who do you think wrote that graffiti on the wall?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ancient temple was defaced with modern ____ by vandals.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The side of the old brick building was covered in colorful ____ that expressed various political and social messages.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō)bor. Italian graffire Italian graffito Italian graffitibor. English graffiti Borrowed from Italian graffiti, from graffito, from graffire, borrowed from Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō, “to write”), from Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō, from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ-.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The removal of unsightly graffiti on the sides of railway bridges spanning major roads in the North West is to be handed over to National Highways, to speed up the job."
— 2021 October 20, “Network News: NR and NH tackle graffiti vandalism”, in RAIL, number 942, page 9:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ancient temple was defaced with modern ____ by vandals.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The side of the old brick building was covered in colorful ____ that expressed various political and social messages.