If you found yourself more thrilled about Taylor Swift’s engagement announcement earlier this year than for a close friend or family member’s, you might resonate with Cambridge Dictionary’s word of 2025.
Cambridge declared “Parasocial” as the word of the year, citing its increased usage in high-profile contexts and the proliferation of digital communication and AI technology facilitating such connections.
This term describes a unilateral bond that an individual forms with someone unknown to them, such as a celebrity, influencer, fictional character, or AI chatbot.
“Millions of individuals engage in parasocial relationships, while many others are fascinated by their emergence,” stated Colin McIntosh, the editor of the Cambridge Dictionary.
“The rise in searches for ‘parasocial’ on the Cambridge Dictionary website reflects this trend.”
From Taylor Swift to IShowSpeed
The term experienced a surge in searches in June when streamer IShowSpeed apparently blocked a fan who created an extensive emotional thread dedicated to the streamer, self-identifying as IShowSpeed’s “No. 1 parasocial.”
Reports of Taylor Swift’s engagement to football player Travis Kelce via an Instagram post also stirred strong emotions among fans, prompting some to label the connection between Swift and her followers as parasocial.
The utilization of AI chatbots for companionship, emotional support, or even romantic involvement sparked discussions during the summer about society’s increasing reliance on algorithms for human connection, prompting the dictionary to expand the definition of the term to encompass AI relationships.
Veronica Lamarche, a psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Essex specializing in parasocial relationships, finds it intriguing that the term is gaining recognition despite its longstanding existence.
The concept originated in the 1950s from sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl to describe the perceived relationships viewers developed with on-screen personalities. However, Cambridge traces the origins of such relationships back further, citing Lord Byron as one of the first celebrities who fans formed parasocial connections with.
Defining the Boundaries between Fandom and Parasocial Connections
Lamarche points to instances of parasocial relationships with figures like Swift or Lily Allen, an artist who recently released an album detailing her divorce from actor David Harbour, to differentiate between mere interest in celebrities and genuine parasocial ties.
Unlike casual interest in celebrities, parasocial relationships simulate active participation in the individual’s life and experiences.