'Parasocial' is word of 2025 for Cambridge Dictionary

Cambridge Dictionary has revealed it’s word of the year for 2025: ‘parasocial’. The word is defined as a connection someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know.

- SAM RUSSELL

The rise of one-sided parasocial relationships has redefined fandom and celebrity, psychologists have observed. For instance, when pop star Taylor Swift and American footballer Travis Kelce announced their engagement earlier this year, many fans felt a strong connection to them despite most not having met them.

The parasocial relationships that people form with online influencers and artificial intelligence chatbots have also been highlighted as part of the growing trend.

Colin McIntosh of the Cambridge Dictionary said: “Parasocial captures the 2025 zeitgeist. It’s a great example of how language changes.

“What was once a specialist academic term has become mainstream. Millions of people are engaged in parasocial relationships; many more are simply intrigued by their rise.

“The data reflects that, with the Cambridge Dictionary website seeing spikes in lookups for ‘parasocial’.