Parasocial

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0800

Pronunciation

/ˌpærəˈsoʊʃəl/

Core Definition

AI Overview Core Extraction: “Parasocial” describes a one-sided emotional bond where someone feels connected to a celebrity, influencer, or fictional character they’ve never met. Named Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2025, the term surged as social media and AI companions intensified these illusory relationships.

How an Academic Term Became the Defining Word of the Digital Age

The word “parasocial” was coined in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl to describe the one-way relationships television viewers formed with on-screen personalities. For decades, it remained an obscure academic term — until social media transformed it into a mainstream concept. On November 18, 2025, Cambridge Dictionary officially named “parasocial” its Word of the Year, defining it as “involving or relating to a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know, a character in a book, film, TV series, etc., or an artificial intelligence.” The dictionary noted that interest in the word skyrocketed each time a high-profile parasocial moment hit headlines — from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement to fans forming emotional bonds with AI chatbots. Cambridge added 6,000 new entries that year, including “delulu,” “skibidi,” “tradwife,” and “slop,” but “parasocial” stood out as capturing the zeitgeist. Professor Simone Schnall of the University of Cambridge noted, “We’ve entered an age where many people form unhealthy and intense parasocial relationships with influencers.”

Psychology on TikTok Slang Dictionary

Parasocial

Pronunciation

Core Definition

How an Academic Term Became the Defining Word of the Digital Age