“Parasocial” is the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year. That feeling that you and Harry Styles would instantly become friends if you ever bumped into each other? Yes, that’s parasocial.
The term dates back to 1956, coined by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl to describe how TV watchers formed “para-social” relationships with those on their screen.
The word has taken on even greater meaning in the age of social media, where we have unparalleled access to the lives of influencers, online personalities, and celebrities via phones.
Take Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement. The news triggered mass hysteria online, with many displaying genuine raw emotion for a couple they’ve never even met. Or British singer Lily Allen, whose latest album West End Girl details a breakup and sparked a “parasocial interest in her love life,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary.
It’s not just celebrities. This year, the dictionary noted a surge in those looking up the word after the Youtube star IShowSpeed blocked an obsessive fan, identified as his “number 1 parasocial.” A number of popular female streamers have spoken publicly about dealing with stalking, some resorting to hiring security while navigating online fame.
Oftentimes these parasocial relationships are built unintentionally. After spending so many hours consuming content from influencers and content creators, it’s only natural that fans feel a sense of kinship and emotional attachment, even if it’s one-sided. So strong are some of these parasocial ties, a 2024 study revealed that parasocial relationships with YouTubers more effectively filled emotional needs than relationships with “real” acquaintances or colleagues.
However, it can bleed into something darker.
Add artificial intelligence into the mix and things get even more complex. Many confide in AI tools like ChatGPT as they would friends or romantic partners. By September of 2025, the Cambridge Dictionary definition of parasocial was updated to include the possibility of a relationship with an artificial intelligence.
Colin McIntosh, Cambridge Dictionary’s chief editor, said the word “captures the zeitgeist of 2025, as the public’s fascination with celebrities and their lifestyles continues to reach new heights.” He noted in a statement: “It’s interesting from a language point of view because it has made the transition from an academic term to one used by ordinary people in their social media posts.”
The other words shortlisted this year were “pseudonymization”, which spiked in interest this year in relation to discussions around protecting personal data. Also “memeify” as it relates to internet culture.
The dictionary added 6,000 new words this year, including internet neologisms like “delulu,” “skibidi” and “tradwife.” Looking ahead, words to watch include “glazing,” “vibey,” “bias,” “breathwork,” and “doomspending.”
