graffito
noun
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Graffito Is the Singular Form of Graffiti
Any casual writing or design marked on a wall is a graffito. Graffiti (the plural of graffito) have been made throughout history; they are found in abundance on the monuments of ancient Egypt. Technically the term applies to a design scratched through a layer of paint or plaster, but its meaning is extended to other markings. Graffiti produced with spray paint became notorious in New York City in the 1970s and have appeared in cities all over the US and Europe. The 20th-century preoccupation with manifestations of the subconscious stimulated this form of expression and produced a vogue for “graffiti art.” Graffiti are sometimes considered a form of folk art.
Examples of graffito in a Sentence
Philip Metres
august 27, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
Their theory also fit with an ancient graffito found in Puteoli, Italy, depicting a crucified individual, with a woman’s name, Alkimila, above a shoulder.
—Fredrick Kunkle, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Apr. 2023
The home in front of them had boarded up windows and graffiti scrawled on its classic white exterior.
—Alina Dizik, WSJ, 28 May 2020
Some protesters damaged windows, a squad car and spraying graffiti on the building.
—Lici Beveridge, USA TODAY, 28 May 2020
See All Example Sentences for graffito
Cite this Entry
“Graffito.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graffito. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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graffito
noun
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