The Cambridge Dictionary in the UK announced on the 18th that its Word of the Year 2025 is 'parasocial'. This word is used to describe the one-sided intimate emotions that audiences or fans feel toward idols or celebrities, filling the gap between reality and fantasy with their own imagination and feelings.
Dictionary editors believe that over the past year, people have shown great interest in establishing 'parasocial relationships'—single-sided emotional bonds—with celebrities, internet influencers, and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots.
Parasocial refers to the one-sided yet enduring emotional connection and interaction people develop with fictional characters, celebrities, or public figures.
The term can be traced back to 1956, when two sociologists at the University of Chicago observed that viewers were beginning to develop one-sided emotional bonds with television personalities, seeing them as close friends or family members.
As AI increasingly penetrates daily life, the word 'slop' has gained a new definition, referring to the vast amounts of low-quality content generated by artificial intelligence flooding the internet.
In addition, the Cambridge Dictionary has also added popular Gen Z and Alpha Generation terms such as 'skibidi', 'delulu', and 'tradwife'.
Over the past 12 months, the Cambridge Dictionary has added "6,212 new words, phrases, and new definitions".
Professor Schnall of Experimental Social Psychology at Cambridge University described 'parasocial' as a "highly thought-provoking" choice.
He commented: "We have entered an era when many people are forming unhealthy and intense one-sided emotional relationships with internet influencers."
He added: "As more and more people treat AI tools like ChatGPT as 'friends' to seek positive encouragement, and even as alternatives to psychological therapy, the trend of one-sided emotional relationships is taking on new dimensions."