Drawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorization.
"The new mural was covered in colorful graffiti that had been sprayed onto the side of the library wall overnight."
In plain English: Graffiti is writing, drawings, or paintings that people make on public walls and surfaces without permission.
"The city hired artists to turn the ugly graffiti on the subway walls into colorful murals."
Usage: Graffiti is the plural form of graffito and refers to multiple drawings or writings found in public spaces; use it as you would any other plural noun by pairing it with verbs like "are" rather than "is." Avoid using graffiti as a singular mass noun, such as saying "the graffiti was," unless referring to the collective body of work as an uncountable concept.
To mark a surface with such images.
"The vandals decided to graffit i the side of the school building with spray paint tags."
In plain English: To graffiti means to write your name on something without permission, usually using spray paint.
"The vandals decided to graffiti the side of the school building with spray paint."
The word graffiti comes from the Italian graffito, which originally meant "a scratch." This traces back to the Ancient Greek verb for "to write."