graffiti

Everyday

1. Words or pictures painted, sprayed or scratched on walls, trains or other public places, usually without permission. tree →
2. Street art: large, colourful paintings on walls, sometimes made with permission. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and citizenship lessons it raises questions of right and wrong: graffiti on other people's property is against the law (vandalism), but some cities have legal walls for street art. In stories it shows a run-down place or a rebellious character. Phrases: spray graffiti, covered in graffiti, graffiti artist, remove graffiti.

Examples

• The bus shelter was covered in graffiti. tree →
• The council cleaned the graffiti off the school wall. tree →
• A graffiti artist painted a beautiful mural with permission. tree →
• Writing graffiti on someone's wall is against the law. tree →
• There was graffiti on the old train carriage. tree →
• Our class designed a graffiti-style poster for art. tree →

Note

Usually treated as uncountable: «the graffiti was removed». Spelling: double f, single t: graffiti. The singular «graffito» is very rare. From Italian.