If you felt more excited for Taylor Swift’s engagement announcement earlier this year than you did for your friend or family member’s, you might relate to Cambridge Dictionary’s word of 2025.

“Parasocial” earned the title, Cambridge announced today, thanks to some high-profile uses and the rise of digital communications and AI technology that make these kinds of connections easier to form.

The adjective describes a one-sided connection that a person has with someone they do not know — such as a celebrity or an influencer, a fictional character in a book or an AI chatbot.

“Millions of people are engaged in parasocial relationships; many more are simply intrigued by their rise,” said Colin McIntosh, editor of the Cambridge Dictionary.

"The data reflects that, with the Cambridge Dictionar

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