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

Podcast listening is, historically, a solo experience: Put in some earbuds or crank up the car stereo, sit back and let blossom a parasocial relationship with strangers who tell stories in such a way that they become our smartest, funniest or most talented friends.

From Los Angeles Times

The one where our friends, both close and parasocial, excitedly share the year-end music-listening data dumps of their Spotify Wrapped.

From Los Angeles Times

She lets her listeners in with the vulnerable yet galvanizing dance track “I Want to Be Better,” which she has described as her “only love song” — but icily calls for the world’s end on the Latin Grammy-nominated club cut “QQQQ,” and rejects the parasocial worship of pop stars in “Idols,” chanting: “Chasing after phantoms / Bowing down to someone else’s idols.”

From Los Angeles Times

Cambridge Dictionary has declared parasocial its word of 2025, which it defined as a relationship felt by someone between themselves and a famous person they do not know.

From BBC

Collins' word of the year was "vibe coding", while "parasocial" was Cambridge Dictionary's.

From BBC