The Cambridge Dictionary has selected parasocial as the Word of the Year for 2025. The term describes a strong, often one-sided emotional attachment to a celebrity, a fictional character, or a chatbot.

Among the examples cited by the dictionary is the singer Taylor Swift.

«Taylor Swift is perhaps the most striking example. She carefully curates her presence on social media, encouraging a sense of personal connection among her fans. Her recent Instagram announcement of her engagement to American football star Travis Kelce sparked an intense global reaction – as though the news had come from a close friend», the dictionary’s website notes.

The term first appeared in 1956, introduced by anthropologist Donald Horton and sociologist Richard Wohl. They used it to describe the emotional attachment television viewers developed toward on-screen personalities – for instance, talk-show hosts.

In 2025, the usage of «parasocial» rose sharply, largely due to concerns that people are increasingly forming such relationships with artificial intelligence, including chatbots like ChatGPT.

«What was once a narrow academic concept has entered the mainstream. Millions of people are already engaged in parasocial relationships, while many others are at least intrigued by their rapid spread», observes lexicographer Colin McIntosh.

Photo: depositphotos