Cambridge Dictionary names 'parasocial' as 2025 Word of the Year

In a recent news, Cambridge Dictionary has named “parasocial” as its 2025 Word of the Year, highlighting its prominence in discussions about online behaviour and celebrity engagement.

The choice is partly linked to reactions surrounding Taylor Swift’s engagement to football player Travis Kelce, which the dictionary notes as one of the year’s most widely discussed cultural moments.

According to a news release, “Millions of fans related to Taylor Swift’s confessional lyrics about dating, heartbreak, and desire, leading to what psychologists describe as ‘parasocial’ bonds with stars.”

Cambridge Dictionary defines “parasocial” as “involving or relating to a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know.”

The term, which dates back to the late 1950s, emerged as television expanded and audiences formed one-sided attachments to public figures such as news anchors and actors.

Elizabeth Perse, professor emeritus of communication at the University of Delaware, previously described this dynamic as an “illusion of friendship.”

Cambridge Dictionary reports that the word has renewed relevance in 2025, driven by the rise of content creators and streamers who share extensive aspects of their daily lives with audiences.

The release also references viewers’ investment in programmes such as “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and the large online followings gained by contestants from “Love Island USA.”

The dictionary further notes increasing interest in parasocial relationships involving artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, with some individuals using such programmes in therapeutic or romantic contexts.

Colin McIntosh of Cambridge Dictionary said, “Millions of people are engaged in parasocial relationships; many more are simply intrigued by their rise.”

McIntosh added that evolving technology continues to reshape how parasocial connections develop and how language describes them.