vandalism

B2 Topic:Crime & Justice

US /ˈvændəˌlɪzəm/ UK /ˈvændəlɪzəm/ See IPA manual

Freq #16373

Meanings

1

noun
deliberate or reckless damage to public or private property

The broken windows were treated as vandalism rather than accidental damage.
2

noun
destructive disregard for works of art, culture, learning, or inherited institutions

The critic called the demolition an act of cultural vandalism.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · deliberate or reckless... property damagedefacementmalicious damage

2 noun · destructive disregard for... cultural destructiondesecration

Opposites

preservation conservation restoration

Word family

Derived forms vandalistic

Related forms vandalgraffitidestruction

Etymology

Borrowed from French vandalisme, coined in 1794 by Henri Gregoire while condemning destruction of art during the French Revolution. It invokes the Vandals, the Germanic people who sacked Rome in 455, though modern historians reject the stereotype of uniquely senseless destruction.

Topics

Crime & Justice

External links

# vandalism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈvændəˌlɪzəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvændəlɪzəm/
**Frequency rank:** 16373

## Meanings
1. deliberate or reckless damage to public or private property
2. destructive disregard for works of art, culture, learning, or inherited institutions

## Examples
- The broken windows were treated as vandalism rather than accidental damage.
- The critic called the demolition an act of cultural vandalism.

## Synonyms
- property damage
- defacement
- malicious damage
- cultural destruction

## Antonyms
- preservation
- conservation
- restoration

## Derived Forms
- vandalistic

## Related Forms
- vandal
- graffiti
- destruction

## Etymology
Borrowed from French vandalisme, coined in 1794 by Henri Gregoire while condemning destruction of art during the French Revolution. It invokes the Vandals, the Germanic people who sacked Rome in 455, though modern historians reject the stereotype of uniquely senseless destruction.

## Topics
- Crime & Justice

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