Definition

Noun: A freelance photographer who aggressively follows celebrities in order to capture and sell unauthorized, candid photographs of them to newspapers, magazines, or other media outlets.

Usage

The word "paparazzo" refers specifically to the individual photographer engaged in this intrusive practice. It is almost always used in a context that implies persistence, invasiveness, and a focus on celebrity culture. - The singular form is paparazzo. - The standard plural form is paparazzi (borrowed from Italian).

Examples

• The actress was surrounded by paparazzi as she left the restaurant.
• A lone paparazzo hid in the bushes outside the celebrity's estate.
• Many celebrities complain about the relentless pursuit by the paparazzi.

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a negative connotation, suggesting harassment and a violation of privacy.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe anyone who is overly intrusive or aggressively seeks sensational information. *Example: "The political reporter was accused of acting like a paparazzo, chasing rumors instead of facts."

Variants and Related Words

• Paparazzi (plural noun): The most common form used to refer to a group of such photographers.
• Paparazzodom (noun, rare): The collective world or industry of paparazzi.
• Paparazziesque (adjective, rare): Characteristic of or resembling the methods of paparazzi.

Synonyms

• Celebrity photographer
• Stalkerazzi (slang, pejorative, emphasizing stalking behavior)
• Shutterbug (informal for any keen photographer, but not specific to celebrities)

Idioms and Phrases

• Paparazzi frenzy / feeding frenzy: A situation where a large group of paparazzi aggressively pursues a celebrity.

Noun

1. a freelance photographer who pursues celebrities trying to take candid photographs of them to sell to newspapers or magazines