DadgogoAI Dictionary

Dictionary entry

parasocial

adjective \ˌper-ə-ˈsō-shəl\
TopicCulture & Big Ideas First known use1956 Senses1
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Definition of parasocial

  1. : describing a one-sided relationship in which a person feels close to someone or something that does not know them in the same way, such as a celebrity, an influencer, or an AI companion

    • Some users form parasocial bonds with their AI companions.
    • A parasocial relationship with a chatbot can feel mutual even though it isn't.

Origin & history

first known use1956

Coined by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl in 1956 to describe TV audiences. Cambridge Dictionary named it its 2025 Word of the Year, partly because of relationships with AI chatbots.

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Related terms

AI companion an AI character or chatbot designed for ongoing personal conversation, friendship, or… chatbot a computer program that holds a conversation with people through text or voice persona a role or character an AI is told to adopt, such as 'experienced editor' or 'friendly tutor'… memory a feature that lets an AI keep information about a user or task across separate conversations… AI psychosis (informal) a term used in the media for cases in which people develop strong false beliefs…

Cite this entry

"Parasocial." AI Dictionary, Dadgogo, https://dadgogo.com/dictionary/parasocial/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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