paparazzi
UK[ˌpæpəˈrætsi]US[ˌpɑːpəˈrɑːtsi]
n
photographers who follow famous people to take pictures of them for newspapers and magazines
Etymology
the word 'paparazzi' entered english from italian in the 1960s. it was popularized by federico fellini's 1960 film "la dolce vita," which featured a character named signor paparazzo, a freelance photographer. the name paparazzo is thought to be derived from an italian dialect word for a buzzing insect, suggesting the persistent, annoying nature of such photographers. the term perfectly captures the concept of photographers who swarm around celebrities, and its adoption into english reflects the globalization of celebrity culture and media.
Analysis
this is a loanword from italian. it is the plural form of 'paparazzo'. the singular form is rarely used in english.
Examples
the actress was surrounded by paparazzi as she left the restaurant.
celebrities often complain about the intrusive tactics of the paparazzi.
the photo, taken by a paparazzo, was sold to a tabloid for a large sum.