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

Examples of paparazzo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

David’s documentary included interviews from his former Manchester United colleagues, paparazzi and even Anna Wintour. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025

Football and Hollywood, two ascendant entertainment forces, were laying claim to this country, and Bob and Jane were at the center of both, with paparazzi tailing them and—imagine this—asking for permission to take a photo. —Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025

After the show, a paparazzo captured McCartney heading to his car and asked how the concert was. —Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 7 Sep. 2025

While traveling with a driver and bodyguard, their car, pursued by paparazzi, crashed into a support column, flipped and landed in front of oncoming traffic. —Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for paparazzo

• palazzo
• terrazzo

Kids Definition

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