deface
B2Formal / Neutral
Definition
Meaning
to deliberately spoil the appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it.
to mar, disfigure, or damage the surface or appearance of something; to render something unsightly or less valuable by altering its external form. In a digital context, it can mean to alter the appearance of a website or document without authorization.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies a purposeful, often malicious act of vandalism. It carries a strong negative connotation of destruction and disrespect for property or public spaces.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations of vandalism and damage.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in formal or legal contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: person/group] deface [Object: surface/object] (with [Instrument: substance/tool])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “deface the coinage (archaic: to clip or counterfeit currency)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to damaging company property or branding, e.g., 'Vandals defaced the shop front.'
Academic
Used in discussions of art history, law (vandalism), or sociology (public disorder).
Everyday
Most commonly used regarding graffiti on public buildings or damaging personal property.
Technical
In IT, refers to unauthorized changes to a website's front page (website defacement).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It is a criminal offence to deface a coin of the realm.
- Protestors were arrested for defacing the war memorial with paint.
American English
- Tagging the subway car constitutes defacing public property.
- The law punishes those who deface currency with severe penalties.
adjective
British English
- The defaced signage made the building look derelict.
- A defaced passport is not valid for travel.
American English
- The defaced mural was an eyesore for the community.
- Authorities recovered the defaced election posters.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Someone defaced the park bench with a marker.
- Do not deface your school books.
- The ancient statue was badly defaced by vandals last year.
- Writing on the wall will deface the new paint.
- Legislation aims to deter people from defacing national monuments.
- Hackers managed to deface the government website for several hours.
- The act of defacing currency is considered a serious crime as it undermines its integrity.
- Campaigners argued that the proposed development would effectively deface the historic skyline.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"DE-FACE": Imagine someone taking a face (a statue's or portrait's face) and deliberately making it ugly or unrecognizable.
Conceptual Metaphor
DAMAGE IS A FACE-LIFT (negative): Imposing an unwanted, ugly new 'face' or surface on something.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лицо' (face) as in a person. The 'face' here is metaphorical, meaning 'surface' or 'front'.
- Not equivalent to 'портить' in all contexts. 'Deface' is specific to surface appearance, often of something public or valuable.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'deface' with 'efface' (to erase or rub out). 'Deface' adds something ugly; 'efface' removes.
- Using it for accidental damage ('I accidentally defaced the table' is incorrect; use 'scratched' or 'marked').
Practice
Quiz
In a digital context, 'deface' most specifically means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary use is physical, it is commonly used in computing for 'website defacement,' where hackers alter a site's visible content.
'Vandalize' is broader and can include breaking windows or damaging interiors. 'Deface' is more specific, focusing on spoiling the surface or outward appearance, often by writing or drawing on it.
Typically no. 'Deface' implies a deliberate, human agent causing the damage. For natural wear, words like 'erode', 'weather', or 'disfigure' (in a non-agentive sense) are more appropriate.
Yes, 'defacement' is the corresponding noun (e.g., 'the defacement of the statue').
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