paparazzi

[ pah-puh-raht-see; Italian pah-pah-raht-tsee ]

plural noun

, singular pa·pa·raz·zo [pah-p, uh, -, raht, -soh, pah-pah-, raht, -tsaw]

1. freelance photographers, especially those who take candid pictures of celebrities for publication:

   To evade the paparazzi, the actress sent her car to the front entrance and snuck in the back on foot.

   I felt like a paparazzo as I hung around waiting to catch a glimpse of the singer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paparazzi¹

First recorded in 1965–70; from Italian, from the surname of such a photographer in Federico Fellini's ( def ) La dolce vita (1959), of disputed origin

Example Sentences

Paparazzi photos of Mrs. Knowles-Carter sporting the Bettie Page look were released.

From The Daily Beast

Mrs. Clooney has been followed around Athens during a three-day visit by a horde of paparazzi that number into the hundreds.

From The Daily Beast

A low point came when she was photographed by paparazzi crying in a Soho street after the break-up.

From The Daily Beast

But what is it like with no Penelope Cruz pouting in sheer red satin, without the massed paparazzi, and screaming publicists?

From The Daily Beast

Lady Gaga, “Paparazzi” Did you know Alexander Skarsgard was in this video?

From The Daily Beast