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Definition of paparazzo

paparazzo

/ˌpɑːpəˈrɑːtsoʊ/
pa · pa · raz · zo
Plural:paparazzi
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paparazzo Lexical Profile

paparazzo Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A freelance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities to take candid, often intrusive photographs for sale to magazines and newspapers.

Example

"A lone paparazzo waited outside the restaurant for hours hoping to snap a photo of the actor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for paparazzo

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'paparazzo' is the strict Italian singular form, the plural 'paparazzi' is far more common in everyday English and is frequently used informally as a collective noun or even as a singular noun.

• Rhymes for paparazzo

• Nearby Words

papad
papal
paparazzi
paparazzo
papaver
papaya
papeete

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Italian 'Paparazzo', the surname of a relentless news photographer in Federico Fellini's 1960 film 'La Dolce Vita'. Fellini reportedly took the name from an Italian dialect word meaning 'buzzing insect' or 'mosquito'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paparazzo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paparazzo
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