Cambridge Dictionary Names "Parasocial" Word of the Year 2025 Amid AI and Celebrity Culture Rise

The Cambridge Dictionary has announced "parasocial" as its word of the year for 2025, reflecting an increased cultural focus on one-sided connections with public figures and artificial intelligence. The adjective describes the emotional bonds people feel toward celebrities or AI entities they have never met in person.

Originating in 1956 from research by two University of Chicago sociologists, the term "parasocial" initially referred to television viewers developing close feelings toward on-air personalities, akin to friendships or familial ties.

Today, as AI technology becomes further entrenched in daily life, the dictionary also updated the definition of "slop" to denote the surge of low-quality AI-generated content flooding the internet.

Alongside "parasocial," new entries for this year include slang terms like "skibidi," "delulu," and "tradwife." "Skibidi" has flexible meanings ranging from "cool" to "bad," and can be used humorously or nonsensically. "Delulu" serves as a shorthand for "delusional," while "tradwife" refers to a "traditional wife," typically describing women on social media who embrace homemaking roles such as cooking and cleaning.

Over the past 12 months, the Cambridge Dictionary incorporated 6,212 new words, phrases, and definitions. Lexicographer Colin McIntosh emphasized that the dictionary carefully selects additions based on their potential for long-term usage, noting, "Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary."

Commenting on the choice of "parasocial," Simone Schnall, professor of experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, called it an "inspired" selection. "We’ve entered an age where many people form unhealthy and intense parasocial relationships with influencers," Schnall said. She added that this trend now includes interactions with AI tools like ChatGPT, which some individuals treat as friends or substitute therapists, seeking validation and emotional support.

This recognition by the Cambridge Dictionary highlights evolving language shaped by modern technology, media consumption, and social dynamics.