paparazzo

British  

/ ˌpæpəˈrætsəʊ /

noun

1. a freelance photographer who specializes in candid camera shots of famous people and often invades their privacy to obtain such photographs

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Etymology

Origin of paparazzo

C20: from Italian

Explanation

A paparazzo is a celebrity photographer. You might see a paparazzo snapping pictures of your favorite pop singer as she stands in line at McDonald's. A more common form of paparazzo is its plural, paparazzi. Either way, these nouns refer to photographers who photograph famous people and sell the photos to newspapers, magazines, and web sites. While there's no reason a paparazzo can't be respectful and professional, paparazzi are better known as obnoxious and pushy, invading celebrities' privacy in order to get candid pictures. The word comes from an Italian film, Fellini's "La Dolce Vita," and its photographer character, whose name is Paparazzo.

Example Sentences

She is also taking legal action against unscripted TV outlet Shed Media US, and producers John Paparazzo, Lisa Shannon and Darren Ward, The Times has learned.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2024

In 1960, Italian director Federico Fellini made the film “La Dolce Vita,” which included a pesky scooter-riding photographer named Paparazzo.

From Washington Post • May 5, 2022

Meanwhile, in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, the name of a supporting character, the persistent street photographer Paparazzo, subsequently came to describe a whole phalanx of the popular press.

From The Guardian • Dec. 30, 2017

He’s the original Paparazzo of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita updated to the TMZ age.

From Time • Oct. 31, 2014

But even the celebrity-obsessed Paparazzo would be shocked at what some of his spiritual and nomenclatural descendants are doing nowadays.

From Time Magazine Archive