Celebrity bonds, AI friends drive language trends

'Parasocial' named Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year 2025

LONDON:

Feeling a deep connection with a celebrity or influencer you've never met? That is the essence of "parasocial," which Cambridge Dictionary has crowned its 2025 Word of the Year, reflecting a growing cultural fascination with one-sided relationships.

The adjective, dating back to the 1950s, describes the bond someone feels with public figures they do not personally know. Lexicographers report that interest in parasocial interactions has surged this year, particularly as artificial intelligence increasingly integrates into everyday life.

Cambridge Dictionary noted that the choice is partly linked to the global phenomenon of Taylor Swift fandom, whose fans — known as Swifties — closely follow her personal life, including her engagement to football player Travis Kelce, despite having no real-life connection to her.

"Millions of fans related to Swift's confessional lyrics about dating, heartbreak, and desire, leading to what psychologists describe as 'parasocial' bonds with stars," the dictionary said, highlighting how audiences invest emotionally in personalities they cannot interact with directly.

The dictionary defines 'parasocial' as "involving or relating to a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know." Professor Elizabeth Perse of the University of Delaware previously described this dynamic as an "illusion of friendship."

Lexicographer Colin McIntosh said millions of people are now engaged in parasocial relationships, while countless others are fascinated by the phenomenon's rise. He added that evolving technology, including AI tools such as ChatGPT, continues to reshape how these connections develop.

The year also saw the addition of 6,212 words, phrases and meanings to Cambridge Dictionary, including 'slop', updated to describe low-quality AI-generated content, and new slang such as 'skibidi', "delulu' and 'tradwife', all reflecting the influence of internet culture on language.

Prof Simone Schnall of Cambridge University called the choice of 'parasocial' inspired, noting that many now treat AI tools and influencers as friends, offering support or even functioning as a form of therapy, highlighting how modern technology extends these one-sided bonds.

In addition to celebrity interactions, parasocial phenomena are visible in streaming content such as 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' and reality shows like 'Love Island USA', where audiences form emotional attachments to personalities who share extensive glimpses of their lives.

The recognition of 'parasocial' underscores how culture, technology and entertainment converge to shape language, with relationships mediated by screens and digital platforms becoming increasingly central to modern life, revealing the depth and complexity of human attachment in the 21st century.