Cambridge Dictionary Selects 'Parasocial' as Word of the Year for 2025

The Cambridge Dictionary has officially named 'parasocial' its Word of the Year for 2025, a selection highlighting a significant cultural shift toward one-sided emotional attachments within the digital sphere. The term, defined as involving a connection felt by an individual toward a public figure they do not personally know, encapsulates modern mediated relationships that now explicitly include artificial intelligence chatbots.

Lexicographers confirmed a substantial increase in lookups for 'parasocial,' signaling its move from specialized vocabulary into common usage. The concept of parasocial relationships (PSRs) was first introduced by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl in 1956 to describe viewer attachments to television figures. The digital era, driven by platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, has amplified these dynamics, enabling influencers to foster a sense of intimacy with their audiences through carefully managed content.

Corpus data from the Cambridge Dictionary substantiated the word's rising frequency, noting common phrases like 'a parasocial relationship' and 'parasocial grief,' the latter referencing sorrow following a celebrity's passing, such as the mourning noted among Liverpool fans for Diogo Jota in 2025. This year's designation is further informed by the integration of artificial intelligence into these one-sided bonds; the dictionary updated the definition to specifically incorporate relationships with AI entities. The development of parasocial connections with AI bots has prompted users to engage with systems like ChatGPT as confidants or partners, raising societal questions about necessary boundaries, a concern referenced by Sam Altman in August 2025.

High-profile real-world events, including the engagement announcement between singer Taylor Swift and American footballer Travis Kelce, also contributed to public engagement, illustrating the widespread nature of these unreciprocated feelings. In parallel with these cultural shifts, the Cambridge Dictionary incorporated over 6,000 new words and phrases into its lexicon over the past twelve months, a move reflecting broader linguistic evolution driven by internet culture.

Colin McIntosh, the lexical program manager at Cambridge Dictionary, indicated that the dictionary only adopts terms projected to possess 'staying power.' Among the new entries are several terms derived from contemporary online vernacular, including 'skibidi,' 'delulu,' and 'tradwife.' 'Skibidi,' originating from the animated series 'Skibidi Toilet,' functions as slang that can denote 'cool' or 'bad,' or be used nonspecifically as a joke. 'Delulu,' an abbreviation for 'delusional,' describes the conscious choice to believe in unreal concepts, a term recently used in political commentary by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the phrase 'delulu with no solulu.' Lastly, 'tradwife,' short for 'traditional wife,' reflects a social media trend where married women emphasize traditional gender roles online, with Hannah Neeleman of @ballerinafarm cited as a notable example. These additions collectively chart the evolving environment of digital communication, where brevity, niche communities, and mediated intimacy are reshaping the English language.