English Explanatory Dictionary

vandalism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Willful damage to or destruction of any property, such as graffiti or defacement.

Pronunciation

/ˈvændəlɪzm̩/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-vandalism.wav

Word forms

vandalism vandalisms

Etymology

Borrowed from French vandalisme, first used by Henri Grégoire to decry the pillage and destruction of art in the course of the French Revolution, in reference to the East Germanic tribe of the Vandals, which looted Rome in 455. By surface analysis, vandal + -ism.

Synonyms

vandalization

Related words

vandal vandalise vandalize

Derived words

antivandalism brandalism cybervandalism
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