Taylor Swift behind Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year choice

Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce has apparently inspired Cambridge Dictionary in the most unique way.

As reported by Daily Mail, Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year is “parasocial”, which has been inspired by the Fate of Ophelia hitmaker’s relationship with her American football tight end fiancé.

While explaining why the crowned word of the year has been inspired by famous couple, the Cambridge University Press & Assessment said, "Millions of fans related to Taylor Swift's confessional lyrics about dating, heartbreak and desire, leading to what psychologists describe as 'parasocial' bonds with stars."

It added, "'When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, many fans felt a deep connection to the singer and American footballer, even though most had never met them."

The dictionary board’s chosen word of 2025 means "involving or relating to a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not know, a character in a book, film, TV series, etc, or an artificial intelligence”.

The decision to include “parasocial”, the term that dates back to 1956, to Cambridge Dictionary was made because it describes the strong, one-sided connections people feel with celebrities, influencers, or even AI chatbots, like ChatGPT.