If you found yourself more thrilled by Taylor Swift’s engagement announcement earlier this year than by that of a friend or family member, you may resonate with Cambridge Dictionary’s 2025 word of the year.
“Parasocial” has been crowned the title by Cambridge for this year, owing to its prominent usage and the increasing prevalence of digital communications and AI technology that facilitate these types of connections.
This term, an adjective, characterizes a one-sided bond that an individual forms with someone they do not personally know, such as a celebrity, influencer, fictional character, or an AI chatbot.
Colin McIntosh, the Cambridge Dictionary editor, remarked, “Millions of individuals are engaged in parasocial relationships, while many others are simply captivated by their emergence.”
“The data indicates this, with notable surges in searches for ‘parasocial’ on the Cambridge Dictionary website.”
From Taylor Swift to IShowSpeed
Interest in the term peaked in June when streamer IShowSpeed allegedly blocked a fan who had created an extensive thread of emotional posts dedicated to the streamer, identifying themselves as IShowSpeed’s “No. 1 parasocial.”
The announcement of Taylor Swift’s engagement to football star Travis Kelce via an Instagram post also evoked strong emotions for the pop star’s milestone, prompting some to label the bond between Swift and her fans as parasocial.
The utilization of AI chatbots as friends, confidants, or even for romantic associations also sparked discussions in the summer regarding people’s dependence on algorithms for connection, prompting the dictionary to expand its definition of the term to encompass AI companions.
Veronica Lamarche, a psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Essex specializing in parasocial relationships, finds it intriguing to witness the term gaining prominence, despite the fact that the concept it signifies is not entirely novel.
The phrase was coined in the 1950s by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl to describe the perceived connections TV viewers established with on-screen personalities. However, Cambridge traces the origins of such relationships back even further, identifying the initial parasocial relationship as the one many admirers had with Lord Byron, the renowned British poet and satirist considered one of the earliest celebrities.
Where Does Fandom End and Parasocial Begin?
Lamarche suggests that instances of parasocial relationships with figures like Swift or Lily Allen, a fellow pop artist who recently released a detailed album chronicling her divorce from actor David Harbour in October, help distinguish between mere interest in a celebrity and a genuine parasocial bond.
Unlike mere curiosity