parasocial

American  

[par-uh-soh-shuhl] / ˌpær əˈsoʊ ʃəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the connection or imagined connection between a regular person and a fictional character, celebrity, or other public figure: Fans naturally project their values into parasocial relationships, but they are bound to be disappointed one day when their idols aren't who they’ve built them up to be.

   Part of having a favorite TV show is the parasocial interaction that you get with the characters you come to know.

   Fans naturally project their values into parasocial relationships, but they are bound to be disappointed one day when their idols aren't who they’ve built them up to be.

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Etymology

Origin of parasocial

First recorded in 1960–65; para- ¹ ( def. ) + social ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

parasocial

You’d assume that the interface—which some people describe as what you’d get if eBay and TikTok had a child—would attract younger users, who grew up in this parasocial, digital petri dish of swiping and typing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

“Obsession” has ideas about our age of instant gratification and parasocial idealization fueled by social media that the film never manages to do anything more than wag a finger at.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026

For Rapp, a public figure whose fans can’t help but form parasocial attachments to her, it’s a relief to feel so deeply understood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025

Fans can also develop parasocial relationships with content creators but don’t often seek those connections with Uber drivers, he said.

From Slate ● Sep. 24, 2025

“Of course. It’s called parasocial interaction—when someone in your audience feels like they know you based on the persona you’ve created.”

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows