graffiti

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian graffiti.

noun

1. (chiefly uncountable) Drawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorization.
   The underpass is a popular place for graffiti artists.
   The city council spends thousands of pounds removing graffiti from public buildings.
   The removal of unsightly graffiti on the sides of railway bridges spanning major roads in the North West is to be handed over to National Highways, to speed up the job. October 20 2021, “Network News: NR and NH tackle graffiti vandalism”, in RAIL, number 942, page 9
2. (archaeology, countable) Informal inscriptions, figure drawings, etc., as opposed to official inscriptions.

verb

1. (transitive) To mark a surface with such images.