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graffiti

graf·fi·ti [ grə ftee ]


noun 
Definition:
 
writing on walls: drawings or words that are scratched, painted, or sprayed on walls or other surfaces in public places

[Mid-19th century. < Italian, plural of graffito (see graffito)]

Word Usage
graffito or graffiti?

Graffito is an Italian borrowing into English, and its plural in Italian is graffiti. It is acceptable, however, to use graffiti as a singular when the meaning is "inscriptions in general": Graffiti has marred the walls on this block for far too long, though Graffiti have marred the walls... is the more technically appropriate. Graffiti is also regularly used as a singular to mean "an inscription": It's just another gang-related graffiti, though graffito is the more technically correct term.

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