In a move that captures the spirit of our times, Cambridge Dictionary has declared 'parasocial' as its Word of the Year for 2025. The selection was heavily influenced by the global phenomenon of fan culture surrounding figures like pop icon Taylor Swift and her relationship with American footballer Travis Kelce.
The term describes a one-sided connection where an individual feels a bond with a famous person, fictional character, or even an artificial intelligence, despite having no personal relationship with them. This concept has moved from academic circles into mainstream conversation, largely driven by online behaviour in 2025.
The Swift-Kelce Effect on Modern Language
Cambridge University Press & Assessment revealed that the widespread attachment fans feel towards Taylor Swift, particularly through her confessional lyrics about dating and heartbreak, has created textbook examples of parasocial relationships. The announcement of Swift's engagement to Travis Kelce amplified this phenomenon, with millions of fans experiencing a sense of deep personal connection to the couple.
Colin McIntosh of the Cambridge Dictionary stated that 'parasocial' perfectly captures the 2025 zeitgeist. He noted that lookups for the word on their website saw significant spikes, reflecting public fascination with the term. The dictionary added approximately 6,000 new words this year, including 'delulu', 'skibidi', and 'tradwife'.
From 1956 to the AI Age: The Evolution of Parasocial Bonds
The concept of parasocial relationships is not new. The term dates back to 1956, when two University of Chicago sociologists identified that television viewers formed these one-sided bonds with on-screen personalities, similar to relationships with real friends and family.
Today, the dynamic has expanded dramatically. Professor Simone Schnall, an expert in experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, called the choice 'inspired'. She explained that the rise of parasocial relationships has redefined fandom, celebrity, and how people interact online, especially with the advent of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, which some users treat as friends or therapists.
Professor Schnall highlighted a dual nature to this trend. While a healthy fandom can develop around exceptionally talented artists like Taylor Swift, it can also lead to obsessive behaviour and the illusion of a real relationship. This is particularly potent as trust in traditional media declines, leading people to turn to individual online personalities as authorities.
Previous Cambridge Dictionary Words of the Year include 'manifest', 'brat' (inspired by Charli XCX's album), and 'hallucinate', reflecting how language continuously adapts to cultural and technological shifts.
