Vandalism
/ˈvændəlɪzəm/noun
The deliberate destruction or defacement of property, art, or public places.
Did you know?The term was coined in 1794 by French bishop Henri Grégoire, who condemned revolutionary destruction of religious and royal artworks by comparing it to the supposed brutality of the Vandals.
Etymological Timeline
Late Antiquity
Latin
Vandali
“The Vandals, a Germanic-speaking people known through Roman historical sources.”
5th Century
Latin
Vandalus
“A member of the Vandal people; the Vandals established a kingdom in North Africa.”
1794
French
vandalisme
“A newly coined label for the destructive treatment of cultural monuments during the French Revolution.”
19th Century
French
vandalisme
“Destruction of works of art, monuments, or cultural heritage.”
19th Century
English
vandalism
“The destruction or defacement of property, especially public or artistic property.”