Defacing: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from 'de-', meaning removal, and 'face', which refers to the surface of something.
• First recorded use of the term appeared in English texts around the late 16th century.
• The concept often relates to vandalism, where people change or damage property they don’t own.

Legal Perspectives

• Defacing property can lead to criminal charges such as vandalism or destruction of property.
• In many jurisdictions, penalties for defacing can include fines or community service.
• Public art displays often face defacement, reflecting the tension between art and personal expression.

Art and Culture

• Street artists sometimes deface buildings as a statement against urban decay or to challenge societal norms.
• Defacement has been linked to various protest movements, using altered imagery to express dissent.
• Historical artifacts, like ancient statues, often have been defaced over centuries for various reasons, including political or ideological.

Psychology

• Individuals who deface others' work often display a need for attention or an urge to express their discontent.
• Defacement can reflect deeper societal issues, including frustration with authority or the status quo.
• From a psychological viewpoint, some people feel empowered by altering or destroying the works of others.

Technology

• In the digital realm, defacing can refer to unauthorized changes made to websites, often as a form of protest or hacking.
• Cybersecurity experts work to prevent website defacement, focusing on protecting digital information and integrity.
• Online defacement can lead to serious repercussions not just for the website owners, but also for the perpetrators, including legal actions.

This word's position of #31,231 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 31228 unlearn
• 31229 protuberant
• 31230 mutinied
• 31231 defacing
• 31232 whittling
• 31233 suppository
• 31234 fogging
• ...