Paparazzi (US: /ˌpɑːpəˈrɑːtsi/, UK: /ˌpæpəˈrætsi/; Italian: [papaˈrattsi]; singular: masculine paparazzo or feminine paparazza) are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people, such as actors, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities, typically while subjects go about their usual life ... noun, plural pa·pa·raz·zi [pah-puh-raht-see; Italian pah-pah-raht-tsee]. a freelance photographer, especially one who takes candid pictures of celebrities for publication. ________ Origin|| Etymology. A news photographer named Paparazzo(played by Walter Santesso in the 1960 film La Dolce Vita directed by Federico Fellini) is the eponym of the word paparazzi. ... By the late 1960s, the word, usually in the Italian plural form paparazzi, had entered English as a generic term for intrusive photographers.