shutterbug

English

WOTD – 12 January 2007

Etymology

From shutter +‎ bug, from their tendency to work the camera's shutter frequently.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈʃʌtəbʌɡ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈʃʌtɚbʌɡ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

shutterbug (plural shutterbugs)

  1. (informal) A person who makes a hobby of photography.
    • 1992, Popular Mechanics, volume 169, number 11, page 18:
      Aerial photography was coming into its own, and flying shutterbugs pushed the envelope, striving to outsnap each other.
    • 2024 March 11, Mark Landler, “Even Photoshop Can’t Erase Royals’ Latest P.R. Blemish”, in The New York Times[1], →ISSN:
      She was contrite, but presented herself as just another frustrated shutterbug with access to Photoshop.

Translations