street-art
/ˈstriːt ˌɑːt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Art made in public places, usually outside on walls, buildings, or pavements. It often includes graffiti, murals, and stencils.
- The city is famous for its street-art.
- We saw a large mural on the alley wall.
- Some people see street-art as public art.
Adinary Nuance
Street-art is broader than graffiti. Graffiti often means writing, tags, or sprayed words, while street-art can include big painted images, stencils, and murals. Use street-art when you want a more artistic or public-art sense. It is usually more positive than graffiti.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nghệ thuật đường phố
- Spanish
- arte callejero
- Chinese
- 街头艺术
- Japanese
- ストリートアート
- Korean
- 거리 예술
Etymology
Street-art is a modern English compound, formed from street and art. It became common in the late 20th century as public wall art grew in cities.
Common phrases
street-art festivalstreet-art muralstreet-art scenestreet-art artist
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is street-art the same as graffiti?
- Not exactly. Graffiti often means tags or writing, while street-art includes larger artistic images too.
- Is street-art a formal word?
- It is neutral and common in writing, news, and art discussions.
- Can I use street-art for a painted wall mural?
- Yes. A mural in a public place can be called street-art.