graffiti
/ɡrəˈfiːti/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡrəˈfiːti/ (ame, ipa) · /grə-ˈfē-(ˌ)tē gra-, grä-/ (ame, mw) · /ɡrəˈfiː.ti/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡrəˈfiː.t̬i/ (ame, ipa)
graffiti — noun
1. words, images, or symbols painted, sprayed, or scratched onto public walls, buil
words, images, or symbols painted, sprayed, or scratched onto public walls, buildings, trains, or other surfaces, typically done without official permission and often expressing humour, protest, or artistic style.
The abandoned factory walls were covered in colourful graffiti, including cartoon characters and political messages.
collocation: covered in graffiti
Most of the subway carriages had been tagged with graffiti by a local street-art collective.
collocation: tagged with graffiti
The city council launched a campaign to remove graffiti from historic buildings in the old quarter.
- street art
broader term covering legal and illegal public artwork, often more positive in connotation
- spray-paint art
focuses on the medium rather than the location; neutral in tone
- tag
refers specifically to a stylised signature or nickname, the simplest form of graffiti
- mural
a large wall painting that may be legal or commissioned; implies more planning and artistic skill
文法句型
graffiti + on + surface
covered in/with graffiti
用法筆記
Graffiti is uncountable in standard English — use 'a piece of graffiti' or 'graffiti' (no plural -s) rather than 'a graffiti' or 'graffitis'. The Italian singular 'graffito' exists but is extremely rare in everyday English.
常見錯誤
graffiti — verb
- graffitipresent simple I / you / we / they
- graffitis3rd person singular
- graffitiing-ing form
- graffitiedpast simple
1. to paint, spray, or draw words, images, or symbols onto walls, trains, signs, or
to paint, spray, or draw words, images, or symbols onto walls, trains, signs, or other publicly visible surfaces, usually without official permission.
Two teenagers were caught graffitiing the wall behind the petrol station late at night.
verb -ing form: graffitiing
Someone had graffiti'd the school sign with black permanent marker during the weekend.
irregular past: graffiti'd
The young artist learned to graffiti legally by joining a weekend street-art workshop.
- spray-paint
emphasises the tool used; can be used for legal painting too
- tag
specifically means writing one's signature-style nickname in graffiti
- deface
has a negative, vandalism-focused meaning; implies damage rather than art
文法句型
graffiti + surface (object)
be graffitied/graffiti'd + by/with
用法筆記
The verb has two common past forms — 'graffitied' and 'graffiti'd' — both are accepted in informal writing. The contracted form 'graffiti'd' is more common and matches the Italian origin. The verb typically takes the surface as its direct object (transitive), not the content.