vandalism

Everyday

Damaging or destroying other people's property or public things on purpose, such as breaking windows or spraying paint. tree →

In the lessons

In citizenship and safety lessons: vandalism is a crime and costs everyone money to repair. In news and stories it names careless or angry damage. A person who does it is a vandal; to do it is to vandalise.

Examples

• Smashing the bus shelter glass was an act of vandalism. tree →
• The park closed after vandalism to the swings. tree →
• Graffiti on the school wall counts as vandalism. tree →
• Vandalism costs the council thousands of pounds each year. tree →
• The police are looking into the vandalism at the station. tree →
• Our class cleaned up after the vandalism in the playground. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «an act of vandalism», not «a vandalism». Vandal (person), vandalise (UK) / vandalize (US). Named after the Vandals, an ancient people said to have wrecked Rome.