India, Nov. 19 -- You may not have had the golden opportunity to get an autograph or click a selfie or even remotely know them but feel a strong connection with a celebrity. No, it's not a disorder but absolutely normal and it's called 'parasocial'.

And now it has been acknowledged by the Cambridge Dictionary.

The Cambridge Dictionary on Tuesday named 'parasocial' as its word of the year for 2025.

What does 'parasocial' mean?

In this relationship, the audience feels deeply connected to someone who doesn't personally know them.

These bonds often develop through repeated exposure - watching an actor in films, following a creator's daily vlogs, or engaging with a journalist's content.

The more someone consumes, the more "familiar" the ...