Cambridge Dictionary Names ‘Parasocial’ Word of the Year for 2025
Cambridge Dictionary has selected «parasocial» as its word of the year for 2025, reflecting how one-sided emotional ties with celebrities and online personalities have entered mainstream culture. The term refers to a sense of connection a person feels towards a well-known figure they have never met.
Psychologists say these imagined relationships have reshaped ideas of fame and fandom. When Taylor Swift and American footballer Travis Kelce announced their engagement, many fans felt personally involved despite never meeting either of them. The same pattern now appears with influencers and AI chatbots, with some people ranking these imagined bonds above certain real-life relationships.
A 2024 study found that while friends and family still met people’s emotional needs best, viewers valued their parasocial connections with YouTubers more than their ties with casual acquaintances or colleagues.
Colin McIntosh from Cambridge Dictionary said: «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.»
He added that searches for the word had risen sharply on the site.
From Television Origins to Modern Influencers
The term dates to 1956, when two University of Chicago sociologists noted that television audiences formed emotional bonds with on-screen personalities similar to those they held with real family or friends. As television expanded, so did the feeling that actors and presenters were familiar figures in viewers’ homes.
Simone Schnall, professor of experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, said modern life had ushered in «unhealthy and intense» parasocial attachments to influencers.
«This leads to a sense that people know those they form parasocial bonds with, can trust them and even to extreme forms of loyalty. Yet it is completely one-sided.»
She said declining trust in mainstream media pushed people towards individual personalities treated as authority figures.
Schnall added that AI tools such as ChatGPT give parasocial relationships a new dimension, as many speak to them as if they are friends.
She warned: «This is an illusion of a relationship and group think, and we know young people can be susceptible to this.»
These relationships pose other risks. Watching another person’s life so closely encourages constant comparison that can foster unrealistic expectations or unhealthy ideals.
Other New Entries for 2025
Cambridge Dictionary also announced new additions for the year. These include «delulu», a playful twist on delusional, the nonsensical term «skibidi» and «tradwife», short for traditional wife. Words that stood out this year include «slop» for poor quality online content, often produced by AI, and «memeify», meaning to turn a person or event into a widely shared meme.
