parasocial
adjective
para·so·cial
ˌper-ə-ˈsō-shəl 
ˌpa-rə-
: relating to or involving a one-sided emotional connection with someone (especially a celebrity or fictional character) whom one does not know personally
… parasocial …—a term coined in 1956 to describe the connection between television viewers and a new class of entertainment personalities, including announcers, game-show hosts and anyone else who spoke in direct address to the camera.—
Jamie Lauren Keiles
Jamie Lauren Keiles"Most of these relationships originate when someone is admired at a distance," says Gayle Stever, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Empire State College/State University of New York who researches parasocial attachment. "Lack of reciprocity is a defining feature." Most occur through media, but they may also form in other settings, like with a professor, pastor, or someone you see around campus, she notes.—Jake Smith
Jake Smith… we all partake in parasocial interactions. We mentally interact with characters we watch on TV, or the characters in books we're reading, or podcasts we listen to.—Shayla Love
Shayla LovePlatforms like Twitter have transformed the nature of parasocial relationships, both intensifying them and making them harder to define, as more celebrities actively interact with fans and share personal information.—Lauren Young
Lauren YoungExamples of parasocial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The segment could have used an overhead shot to better show everything that was going on, and having a camera on Timothée Chalamet but not cutting to him after ballerina Misty Copeland pirouetted right in his face was a crime against our parasocial relationships.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Labels invest millions in training, debut showcases, and parasocial marketing designed to make fans believe their devotion will be rewarded with loyalty.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 10 Mar. 2026
What seemed at first like simple transactional espionage is revealed to have a disturbing psychosexual and parasocial dimension.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Justin and Hailey Bieber are fighting back against parasocial internet takes with the support of SZA.
—Glamour, 16 Jan. 2026
Fandom is not just the act of loving a television show or having a parasocial relationship with a celebrity.
—Makena Kelly, Wired News, 22 Dec. 2025
However, parasocial relationships can take a bizarre or even ominous turn when the object of one’s affections is a chatbot.
—Roger J. Kreuz, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Along the way, what began as a parasocial relationship evolved into a bit of a sisterhood among the influencers, which led to them sharing information and coordinating their activities with each other.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
As with everything else, the internet supercharges the intensity and parasocial obsession strangers may have with Mangione.
—Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
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Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Labels invest millions in training, debut showcases, and parasocial marketing designed to make fans believe their devotion will be rewarded with loyalty.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 10 Mar. 2026
What seemed at first like simple transactional espionage is revealed to have a disturbing psychosexual and parasocial dimension.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
Justin and Hailey Bieber are fighting back against parasocial internet takes with the support of SZA.
—Glamour, 16 Jan. 2026
Fandom is not just the act of loving a television show or having a parasocial relationship with a celebrity.
—Makena Kelly, Wired News, 22 Dec. 2025
However, parasocial relationships can take a bizarre or even ominous turn when the object of one’s affections is a chatbot.
—Roger J. Kreuz, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Along the way, what began as a parasocial relationship evolved into a bit of a sisterhood among the influencers, which led to them sharing information and coordinating their activities with each other.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
As with everything else, the internet supercharges the intensity and parasocial obsession strangers may have with Mangione.
—Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parasocial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasocial. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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