Cambridge Dictionary names word of the year
The Cambridge Dictionary has named parasocial its word of the year for 2025. The word describes a feeling of connection with someone you don’t know personally – a celebrity, influencer, fictional character or even an artificial intelligence.
This is reported by The Guardian.
The dictionary notes that the word was chosen because of the rapid growth of parasocial relationships: people increasingly interact with chatbots, bloggers and online celebrities, perceiving them almost as acquaintances or friends. The term originated in 1956, when sociologists described the emotional “one-sided relationships” of television viewers with characters on the screen.
In the age of social media and AI, the possibilities for such connections have increased dramatically. Dictionary editor Colin McIntosh noted that searches for the word parasocial had increased dramatically in 2025. Among the “parasocial moments of the year” were Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce and Lily Allen’s album.
Cambridge University professor Simone Schnall says people are increasingly turning to influencers for support as they distrust traditional media, but such connections can become unhealthy. She adds that many people are interacting with AI tools – including ChatGPT – as if they were friends or a substitute for therapy.
Other contenders for word of the year included pseudonymization and memeify .
As previously reported, Ukraine has launched a new joint initiative with NVIDIA to create sovereign artificial intelligence and develop a national AI infrastructure.