paparazzo
noun
pa·pa·raz·zo ˌpä-pə-ˈrät-(ˌ)sō 
plural paparazzi ˌpä-pə-ˈrät-(ˌ)sē
: a freelance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities for the purpose of taking candid photographs
a movie star surrounded by a swarm of paparazzi
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web He previously was sentenced to two years of probation, anger management classes and community service for his misdemeanor battery of a paparazzo at LAX Airport in July 2013. 
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2022 West actor responded to a snide question from a paparazzo regarding her older sisters. Alexis Gaskin, Glamour, 5 May 2022 Ron Galella, the relentless paparazzo who hounded the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Marlon Brando and Richard Burton during his career but found his photographs displayed in museums and art galleries throughout the world, has died. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2022 He's played a deaf drummer and a tech-bro CEO, a freewheeling surf instructor and a reluctant paparazzo, even a Rebel Alliance pilot in a galaxy far, far away. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 30 Nov. 2021 Britney attacking a paparazzo's car with an umbrella. Aj Willingham, CNN, 13 Nov. 2021 About a year and an ongoing global pandemic later, a paparazzo snapped a photo of Nanjiani in his gym’s parking lot. E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2021 Even if—as happened in this case—the air space over the crash was closed to prevent drone photographers and other prying eyes, anyone on the ground with a cell phone can be a paparazzo. Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2021 And yet the first image of Affleck that comes to mind is almost certainly one taken by a paparazzo. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2021 See More
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2022 West actor responded to a snide question from a paparazzo regarding her older sisters. Alexis Gaskin, Glamour, 5 May 2022 Ron Galella, the relentless paparazzo who hounded the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Marlon Brando and Richard Burton during his career but found his photographs displayed in museums and art galleries throughout the world, has died. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 May 2022 He's played a deaf drummer and a tech-bro CEO, a freewheeling surf instructor and a reluctant paparazzo, even a Rebel Alliance pilot in a galaxy far, far away. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 30 Nov. 2021 Britney attacking a paparazzo's car with an umbrella. Aj Willingham, CNN, 13 Nov. 2021 About a year and an ongoing global pandemic later, a paparazzo snapped a photo of Nanjiani in his gym’s parking lot. E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2021 Even if—as happened in this case—the air space over the crash was closed to prevent drone photographers and other prying eyes, anyone on the ground with a cell phone can be a paparazzo. Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2021 And yet the first image of Affleck that comes to mind is almost certainly one taken by a paparazzo. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Italian, from Paparazzo, surname of such a photographer in the film La dolce vita (1959) by Federico Fellini
First Known Use
1961, in the meaning defined above
paparazzi
noun
as in photogs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- photogs
- photographers
- shutterbugs
- lensmen
- shooters
- cinematographers