Cambridge Dictionary names parasocial its 2025 word of the year, citing fan culture around Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan and AI chatbots.

Cambridge Dictionary has revealed "parasocial" as its word of the year for 2025, defined as involving a connection someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know.Psychologists have observed how the rise of one-sided parasocial relationships has redefined fandom and celebrity.

Cambridge Dictionary recently announced its Word of the Year, with it having a connection to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The word “parasocial” earned the title, with the dictionary noting that its media usage increased after the famous couple’s engagement news.

Dictionaries around the world have named their words of the year for 2025. Here’s how each term captured the cultural mood of the year.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce 's love story is now influencing the dictionary. Cambridge Dictionary just announced its 2025 word of the year, revealing it was partially inspired by Swift's lyrics and her much-talked-about engagement to Kelce back in August.