The Cambridge Dictionary has announced its word of the year for 2025, parasocial , a term used to describe a connection people feel with someone they don't know or even with an artificial intelligence.
The term was coined in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl, who wanted to describe how television viewers formed "parasocial" relationships with television personalities.
This phenomenon continues today, as social media users have parasocial relationships with celebrities and online personalities with whom they have no personal connection.
A key example cited by the Cambridge Dictionary is Taylor Swift, with many fans speaking of their heartfelt feelings for her, despite never having met her.
Colin McIntosh, a lexicographer, said the word "captures the spirit of the times in 2025" and shows how language is changing.
